Acts 12:23

And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. AND IMMEDIATELY THE (OR 'AN') ANGEL OF THE LORD SMOTE HIM, BECAUSE, [ anth' (G473 ) hoon (G3739 )] HE GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY: AND HE WAS EATEN OF WORMS, AND GAVE UP THE GHOST. The medical precision of the phrase here employed to describe Herod's disease [ genomenos (G1096) skooleekobrootos (G4662)] - in which it has the advantage of Josephus'-has been often remarked on, as coming naturally from "the beloved physician." It is remarkable th...

23._Forthwith he smote him. _As, before, the angel was a minister of God’s grace in the delivery of Peter, so now he taketh vengeance upon Herod. And God doth sometimes use the ministry of angels in heaven in punishing; but sometimes he maketh the devils as hangmen, by whose hand he executeth his judgments. And this doth he as well toward his faithful servants as toward the reprobate. Saul was troubled and vexed by Satan, (1 Samuel 16:14) but the same did also befall holy Job, (Job 1:12.) In the Psalms, the punishments wherewith God doth chasten the wicked are attributed to the evil angels; yet we see how the angel which had the government of the safety of the Church smiteth the Egyptians in the first-begotten, (Exodus 12:29;) although the Scripture calleth the w

20-25 Many heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours, but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the word and worship of the living God, to accept such idolatrous honours without rebuking the blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening fast for signal vengeance. God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be glorified upon those whom he is not glorified by. See what vile bodies we carry about with us; they have in them the seeds of their own dissolution, by which they will soon be destroyed, whenever God does but speak the word. We may learn wisdom from the people of Tyre and Sidon, for we have offended the Lord with our sins. We depend on him for life, and breath, and all things; it surely then behoves us to humble ourselves before him, that through the appointed Mediator, who is ever ready to befriend us, we may be recon...

Verse Acts 12:23. _THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SMOTE HIM_] His death was most evidently a judgment from God. _BECAUSE HE GAVE NOT GOD THE GLORY_] He did not rebuke his flatterers, but permitted them to give him that honour that was due to God alone. Acts 12:21, Acts 12:21. _AND WAS EATEN OF WORMS_] Whether this was the _morbus pedicularis_, or whether a violent inflammation of his bowels, terminating in putrefaction, did not actually produce _worms_, which, for several days, swarmed in his infected entrails, we cannot tell. It is most likely that this latter was the case; and this is at once more agreeable to the _letter_ of the text,

AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD - Diseases and death axe in the Scriptures often attributed to an angel. See 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:12, 1Ch 21:15, 1 Chronicles 21:20, 1 Chronicles 21:27; 2 Chronicles 32:21. It is not intended that there was a miracle in this case, but it certainly is intended by the sacred writer that his death was a divine judgment on him for his receiving homage as a god. Josephus says of him that he “did

EXPOSITION ACTS 12:1 _Put _for _stretched, _A.V.;_ afflict _for _vex, _A.V. The phrase, ABOUT THAT TIME, as in Acts 19:23, points to what had just before been related (Meyer). The interposition of the narrative in this chapter between Acts 11:20 and Acts 12:25 evidently implies that the bulk or rather the chief of the events narrated happened in the interval. Which of the events was the chief in the mind of the narrator with reference to his general narrative, and what are the coincidences which he wished to note, it is not easy to say with certainty. The narrative in this c

AND IMMEDIATELY THE ANGEL OF THE LORD SMOTE HIM,.... With a disease after mentioned; this angel, according to Josephus, appeared in the form of an owl; for he says, that a little after (the shout of the people) the king looked up, and saw an owl sitting upon a rope over his head; whom he immediately understood to be an angel, or messenger of evil things to him, as it had been before of good things; for it seems by the same historian s, that when he was bound by the order of Caligula, he saw an owl sitting on that tree, on which he leaned; when a certain German predicted, that things would in a short time be changed with him, and he should be advanced to great honour; but remember, says he, whenever you see that bird again, you will die within five days. Eusebius t, out of Josephus, makes no mention of the owl, but relates it thus; that a little after (the oration and the salutation of th...

ACTS 12:23 geno,menoj skwlhko,brwtoj {A} After tw|/ qew|/ codex Bezae, supported in part by copG67 and by Ephraem, 234 continues kai. kataba.j avpo. tou/ bh,matoj( geno,menoj skwlhko,brwtoj e;ti zw/n kai. ou[twj evxe,yuxen (“and _he came down from the platform,_ [and] _while he was still living_ he was eaten by worms and _thus_ died”). The additional material (italicized in the translation) informs the reader that, though an angel of the Lord smote him immediately after his address, he did not expire at once, but was able to descend from his throne. 235 The addition of e;ti zw/n, as Bruce observes, “...

CHAPTER 12 _ 1. The great Persecution by Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12:1)._ 2. The miraculous deliverance of Peter (Acts 12:6). 3. The Presumption and Judgment of Herod (Acts 12:18). 4. Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem (Acts 12:24). With this chapter we reach the conclusion of the second part of this book. Jerusalem had heard the second offer concerning the Kingdom, and mercy was ready even for the murderers of the Prince of Life. But that offer was rejected. Stephen's testimony followed by his martyrdom marked the close of that second offer to the city where our Lord had been crucified. Then broke out a great p

FATE OF THE SOLDIERS AND OF HEROD. For the soldiers, _cf. Acts 5:21_ ff. Here they are led away to be put to death. The story of Herod's glorification and end is told by Josephus in a similar way; but our version is at some points defective. Herod's displeasure with Tyre dates from an earlier period; no disagreement with Sidon is reported. As king of Judæ a he had a hold on the two towns which depended on importation for their corn, and they might seek to work on him through Blastus, the Master of his Bedchamber; he was a good-natured man they could get round him. Acts 12:21_ b_ requires some such clause as is found in D, on his being reconciled to the Tyrians. His decision was evidently to be given at a splendid court ceremony. The scene is described by Josephus (_Ant._ XIX. viii. 2) who s