Eaten By Worms
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20 He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him. They won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bedroom, and through him they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king’s country. 21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. 22 The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died. 24 Then God’s message flourished and multiplied. 25 After they had completed their relief mission, Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, taking along John who is called Mark.
I. He Wronged the Workman
I. He Wronged the Workman
God punishes Herod Agrippa by taking his life. He does so in response to Herod's attack on two of the twelve apostles: James, whom Herod killed, and Peter, whom he imprisoned. God judged Herod Agrippa, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and who had touched the apple of God's eye (HCSB)
7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”
8 For the LORD of Hosts says this: “He has sent Me for ⌊His⌋ glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye.
9 I will move against them with My power, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me. ().
God punishes Herod Agrippa by taking his life. He does so in response to Herod's attack on two of the twelve apostles: James, whom Herod killed, and Peter, whom he imprisoned. God judged Herod Agrippa, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and who had touched the apple of God's eye (HCSB)
7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”
8 For the LORD of Hosts says this: “He has sent Me for ⌊His⌋ glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye.
9 I will move against them with My power, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me. ().
God punishes Herod Agrippa by taking his life. He does so in response to Herod's attack on two of the twelve apostles: James, whom Herod killed, and Peter, whom he imprisoned. God judged Herod Agrippa, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and who had touched the apple of God's eye (HCSB)
7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”
8 For the LORD of Hosts says this: “He has sent Me for ⌊His⌋ glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye.
9 I will move against them with My power, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me. ().
God punishes Herod Agrippa by taking his life. He does so in response to Herod's attack on two of the twelve apostles: James, whom Herod killed, and Peter, whom he imprisoned. God judged Herod Agrippa, who knew the Old Testament Scriptures and who had touched the apple of God's eye (HCSB)
7 “Go, Zion! Escape, you who are living with Daughter Babylon.”
8 For the LORD of Hosts says this: “He has sent Me for ⌊His⌋ glory against the nations who are plundering you, for anyone who touches you touches the pupil of His eye.
9 I will move against them with My power, and they will become plunder for their own servants. Then you will know that the LORD of Hosts has sent Me. ().
His vindication of the church. God never has and never will allow the persecution of His followers to go on and on. God is longsuffering, wanting all to repent and to turn to Him, but He tolerates evil for only so long. Every man has to give an account for his evil deeds. Herod's time had now come.
His vindication of the church. God never has and never will allow the persecution of His followers to go on and on. God is longsuffering, wanting all to repent and to turn to Him, but He tolerates evil for only so long. Every man has to give an account for his evil deeds. Herod's time had now come.
The judgment of God fell and fell swiftly.
The judgment of God fell and fell swiftly.
1. The sins of Herod were very serious.
1. The sins of Herod were very serious.
He was guilty...
He was guilty...
• of opposing God. He violently persecuted God's church, which was equal to persecuting the Lord Himself. He was determined to wipe the church off the face of the earth (; cp. ; ; ).
• of opposing God. He violently persecuted God's church, which was equal to persecuting the Lord Himself. He was determined to wipe the church off the face of the earth (; cp. ; ; ).
• of murder: killing the servants of God, apparently plotting to kill them all ().
• of murder: killing the servants of God, apparently plotting to kill them all ().
• of loving the world: its power, position, and influence ().
• of loving the world: its power, position, and influence ().
• of hypocrisy and deception: pretending to be religious—all for power and position.
• of hypocrisy and deception: pretending to be religious—all for power and position.
• of wrath and lack of compassion (): it was Roman law that the keepers of escaped prisoners were subject to bear the same punishment as the prisoner.
• of wrath and lack of compassion (): it was Roman law that the keepers of escaped prisoners were subject to bear the same punishment as the prisoner.
• of hostile and unwise leadership (): the dispute with Tyre and Sidon is not explained, but Herod's nature is seen in the word "displeased" (ēn thumomachōn PWS: 1093). The word means to be inflamed, to be filled with violent hostility. It is very hot anger, an emotion that should never characterize the leader of a nation.
• of hostile and unwise leadership (): the dispute with Tyre and Sidon is not explained, but Herod's nature is seen in the word "displeased" (ēn thumomachōn PWS: 1093). The word means to be inflamed, to be filled with violent hostility. It is very hot anger, an emotion that should never characterize the leader of a nation.
• of pride: the pride of office, position, and person ().
• of pride: the pride of office, position, and person ().
• of self-glory and self-exaltation (): he willingly received the declaration that he was a god ().
• of self-glory and self-exaltation (): he willingly received the declaration that he was a god ().
II. He was Weak toward the World
II. He was Weak toward the World
The people of Tyre and Sidon, who depended on the Jews for food (see ), had in some way displeased King Herod and were in danger of losing this assistance. In true political fashion, they bribed Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bed chamber, and thus a trusted official; he in turn convinced the king to meet the delegation. It was an opportunity for the proud king to display his authority and glory, and for the delegates to please him with their flattery.
The people of Tyre and Sidon, who depended on the Jews for food (see ), had in some way displeased King Herod and were in danger of losing this assistance. In true political fashion, they bribed Blastus, who was in charge of the king’s bed chamber, and thus a trusted official; he in turn convinced the king to meet the delegation. It was an opportunity for the proud king to display his authority and glory, and for the delegates to please him with their flattery.
The Jewish historian Josephus said that this scene took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar, and that the king wore a beautiful silver garment in honor of the occasion. We do not know what Herod said in his oration, but we do know why he said it: he wanted to impress the people. And he did! They played on his Herodian ego and told him he was a god, and he loved every minute of it.
The Jewish historian Josephus said that this scene took place during a festival honoring Claudius Caesar, and that the king wore a beautiful silver garment in honor of the occasion. We do not know what Herod said in his oration, but we do know why he said it: he wanted to impress the people. And he did! They played on his Herodian ego and told him he was a god, and he loved every minute of it.
III. He Wished to be Worshipped
III. He Wished to be Worshipped
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: Wake up to a Miracle! (Acts 12)
But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (Isa. 42:8; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Twelve: Wake up to a Miracle! (Acts 12)
But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (Isa. 42:8; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
By flattering the king and calling him a god, the delegation knew they could get what they wanted. But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also touched the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
By flattering the king and calling him a god, the delegation knew they could get what they wanted. But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also touched the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
By flattering the king and calling him a god, the delegation knew they could get what they wanted. But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
By flattering the king and calling him a god, the delegation knew they could get what they wanted. But he did not give the glory to the Lord, so this whole scene was nothing but idolatry. “I am the Lord: that is My name: and My glory will I not give to another” (; see 48:11). Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus.
The Wages of his Will
The Wages of his Will
The death of Herod was under the sovereign will of God. Herod's time had run out; his sin could not be allowed anymore. The day of God's wrath against a heart so hardened in sin had arrived. Sitting there on the throne, Herod was immediately stricken down with a severe stroke of some sort. His body was being "eaten of worms" (skōlēkobrōtos PWS: 1226). The word "skolex" was used by the Greeks to refer to intestinal worms. Josephus, the renown historian of that day, reported that Herod lingered for five days, suffering great pain in the area of the stomach .
Herod—arrayed in silver splendor, glistening in the Mediterranean sun, drinking in the praise of the people—was suddenly eaten by worms. Now whether worms actually began to eat his flesh—or whether, as Josephus suggests, Herod, struck with severe intestinal pains, died five days later, and, during the autopsy, his insides were found to be full of worms—we can't be sure. Whether the worms ate him from inside out, or from outside in—either way, it was gross! But the Lord doesn't tell us this to gross us out. He tells us this to fill us in, for I believe the purpose of this account is to teach us the absolute necessity of giving God glory.
Jon Courson, Jon Courson's Application Commentary – Jon Courson's Application Commentary New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 713.
The death of Herod was under the sovereign will of God. Herod's time had run out; his sin could not be allowed anymore. The day of God's wrath against a heart so hardened in sin had arrived. Sitting there on the throne, Herod was immediately stricken down with a severe stroke of some sort. His body was being "eaten of worms" (skōlēkobrōtos PWS: 1226). The word "skolex" was used by the Greeks to refer to intestinal worms. Josephus, the renown historian of that day, reported that Herod lingered for five days, suffering great pain in the area of the stomach .
Herod—arrayed in silver splendor, glistening in the Mediterranean sun, drinking in the praise of the people—was suddenly eaten by worms. Now whether worms actually began to eat his flesh—or whether, as Josephus suggests, Herod, struck with severe intestinal pains, died five days later, and, during the autopsy, his insides were found to be full of worms—we can't be sure. Whether the worms ate him from inside out, or from outside in—either way, it was gross! But the Lord doesn't tell us this to gross us out. He tells us this to fill us in, for I believe the purpose of this account is to teach us the absolute necessity of giving God glory.
Jon Courson, Jon Courson's Application Commentary – Jon Courson's Application Commentary New Testament, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2004), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, 713.
The death of Herod was under the sovereign will of God. Herod's time had run out; his sin could not be allowed anymore. The day of God's wrath against a heart so hardened in sin had arrived. Sitting there on the throne, Herod was immediately stricken down with a severe stroke of some sort. His body was being "eaten of worms" (skōlēkobrōtos PWS: 1226). The word "skolex" was used by the Greeks to refer to intestinal worms. Josephus, the renown historian of that day, reported that Herod lingered for five days, suffering great pain in the area of the stomach
, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Acts, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "B. The Jerusalem Church is Miraculously Protected: God's Pattern For Deliverance from Persecution, 12:1-25".
, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Acts, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "B. The Jerusalem Church is Miraculously Protected: God's Pattern For Deliverance from Persecution, 12:1-25".
, The Preacher's Outline & Sermon Bible – Acts, (Chattanooga: Leadership Ministries Worldwide, 1991), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: "B. The Jerusalem Church is Miraculously Protected: God's Pattern For Deliverance from Persecution, 12:1-25".