Herod's Self Destructive Arrogance

Acts 12:19–23 ESV

19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. 20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. 21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” 23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Examining Peter’s Keepers

Acts 12:19

Acts 12:19 ESV

19 And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there.

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 12

19. examined the keepers—who, either like the keepers of our Lord’s sepulchre, had “shaken and become as dead men” (Mt 28:4), or had slept on their watch and been divinely kept from awaking.

Peter escapes again...

They lost Jesus body as well...

It is very difficult to impossible to explain the spiritual with only natural resources...

So the guards pay the cost with their lives...

Herod Upset at Tyre and Sidon

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible Chapter 12

20. Herod was … displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon—for some reason unknown; but the effect on their commercial relations made the latter glad to sue for peace.

their country was nourished by the king’s country—See 1 Ki 5:11; Ezr 3:7; Ez 27:17. Perhaps the famine (Ac 11:28) made them the more urgent for reconciliation.

ref. ; ; ; Acts 11:28

1 Kings 5:11 ESV

11 while Solomon gave Hiram 20,000 cors of wheat as food for his household, and 20,000 cors of beaten oil. Solomon gave this to Hiram year by year.

ezr

Ezra 3:7 ESV

7 So they gave money to the masons and the carpenters, and food, drink, and oil to the Sidonians and the Tyrians to bring cedar trees from Lebanon to the sea, to Joppa, according to the grant that they had from Cyrus king of Persia.

Ezekiel 27:17 ESV

17 Judah and the land of Israel traded with you; they exchanged for your merchandise wheat of Minnith, meal, honey, oil, and balm.

ezk 27:17

Acts 11:28 ESV

28 And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius).

ac 11:

Acts 12:20 ESV

20 Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.

Herod Adorns Himself

Josephus, F., & Whiston, W. (1987). The works of Josephus: complete and unabridged (p. 523). Peabody: Hendrickson.

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 8: What Other Acts Were Done by Agrippa until His Death; and after What Manner He Died

(344) On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him;

Acts 12:21 ESV

21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.

some warning about adornment...

ref. ; ; ; Romans 12:3

Luke 21:5 ESV

5 And while some were speaking of the temple, how it was adorned with noble stones and offerings, he said,

1 Timothy 2:9–10 ESV

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, 10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

1 Timothy 2:9 ESV

9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,

1 Peter 3:3–5 ESV

3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear— 4 but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. 5 For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands,

1 pet 3:3-

Romans 12:3 ESV

3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

How ought we adorn ourselves? We should adorn ourselves with Christ

Now let’s review some things about Herod...

ref. Acts 12:1-5

Acts 12:1–5 ESV

1 About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. 2 He killed James the brother of John with the sword, 3 and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. 4 And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.

acts 12:1-5

Herod was an enemy to the Church and therefore at enmity with God...

Herod’s Arrogance

Humility is a means to pleasing God...

ref. ; : ; James 4:6-7

Isaiah 13:11 ESV

11 I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity; I will put an end to the pomp of the arrogant, and lay low the pompous pride of the ruthless.

Proverbs 16:18–19 ESV

18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. 19 It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Matthew 23:12 ESV

12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

James 4:6–7 ESV

6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 8: What Other Acts Were Done by Agrippa until His Death; and after What Manner He Died

(345) and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another (though not for his good), that he was a god; and they added, “Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.”

Acts 12:22 ESV

22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”

What should Herod’s response have been to the crowd? Herod’s response should have shown humility

What should Herod’s response have been to the crowd? Herod’s response should have shown humility

What

Herod is only a man

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 8: What Other Acts Were Done by Agrippa until His Death; and after What Manner He Died

(346) Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, as he presently afterwards looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner.

Acts 12:23 ESV

23 Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Immediately

1im•me•di•ate•ly \i-ˈmē-dē-ət-lē also -ˈmē-dit-, Britain often -ˈmē-jit-\ adverb

15th century

1: in direct connection or relation: DIRECTLY 〈the parties immediately involved in the case〉 〈the house immediately beyond this one〉

2: without interval of time: STRAIGHTWAY 〈I’ll make that call immediately〉

There is an immediate effect for obeying or disobeying God. We may not always perceive consequences but they are there.

Will God always strike down those who oppose Him, like Herod? Yes, but not with human justice

ref. Romans 3:25-26

Herod? Yes, but not with human justice

rom 3:25-26

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Are we arrogant or have we humbled ourselves before God?