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Acts 12:23
Verse
Context
Sermons
Michael L. Brown
Paris Reidhead
Thomas Brooks
Dick Brogden
John F. WalvoordSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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 honor that was due to God alone. See on Act 12:21 (note). 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 to the circumstances of the case as related by Josephus. And gave up the ghost - That is, he died of the disorder by which he was then seized, after having lingered, in excruciating torments, for five days, as Josephus has stated. Antiochus Epiphanes and Herod the Great died of the same kind of disease. See the observations at the end of Act 1:26 (note) relative to the death of Judas.
John Gill Bible Commentary
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 the people) the king looked up, and saw an angel sitting over his head, whom he immediately understood to be the cause of evil things to him, as he had formerly been of good: the reason of the angel's smiting him was, because he gave not glory to God; or as the Jewish historian says, because he reproved not the flatterers, nor rejected their impious flattery, but tacitly took that to himself, which belonged to God: and he was eaten of worms: Beza's most ancient copy adds, "while he was alive"; Josephus only makes mention of pains in his belly, but these were occasioned by the gnawing of the worms: this was accounted by the Jews a very accursed death; they say (u), that the spies which brought an ill report on the good land, died this death: their account is this, that "their tongues swelled and fell upon their navels, and worms came out of their tongues and went into their navels, and out of their navels they went into their tongues,'' of this death died many tyrants, oppressors, and persecutors! as Antiochus, "So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.'' (2 Maccabees 9:9) and Herod the great, the grandfather of this, according to Josephus (w); and Maximianus Galerius, according to Eusebius (x), and many others: and gave up the ghost: not directly, but five days after, as Josephus relates, in the fifty fourth year of his age, and when he had reigned seven years; but before he died, and as soon as he was smitten, he turned to his friends and said, I your God am obliged to depart this life, and now fate reproves the lying words you have just now spoke of me; and I who was called immortal by you, am led away to die, with more, as related by Josephus: by such a token as this, a man was discovered to be a murderer with the Jews; for so they say (y), that "out of the beheaded heifer went a vast number of worms, and went to the place where the murderer was, and ascended upon him, and then the sanhedrim laid hold on him and condemned him.'' (s) Ib. l. 18. c. 7. sect. 7. (t) Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 10. (u) T. Bab. Sota, fol. 35. 1. (w) Antiqu. l. 17. c. 6. sect. 5. (x) Hist. Eccl. l. 8. c. 16. (y) Targum Jon. in Deut. xxi. 8.
Acts 12:23
The Death of Herod
22And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”23Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
God's Tender Mercies Part 2 - Preparing the Way
By Erlo Stegen1.3K1:15:14Mercy Of GodISA 40:3MAT 5:22ACT 12:23In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Isaiah 40:3, which speaks of a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord. The preacher emphasizes that this voice is not that of John the Baptist, but rather the voice of God Himself. The sermon emphasizes the importance of heeding and obeying God's voice, as disobedience can lead to negative consequences. The preacher also highlights the need for repentance and obedience in order for the glory of the Lord to be revealed in one's life.
Revival and the Local Church
By Michael L. Brown7101:31:13GEN 1:12CH 36:23MAT 6:33ACT 12:23ACT 13:9ACT 28:30REV 2:18In this sermon, the pastor shares practical advice for churches based on their experiences. He emphasizes the importance of learning from past successes and stumbling upon good practices. The pastor encourages the congregation to read books about revival and gather together to watch videos of powerful services to inspire and ignite a passion for God's work. He also highlights the significance of preaching the word of God regularly, even though there may be moments when God's presence is so overwhelming that preaching becomes difficult.
Fellowship in the World or the Church
By Paris Reidhead11342:34FellowshipACT 12:1ACT 12:23In this sermon, the speaker addresses the importance of submitting to God and accepting Him as the foundation of one's faith. The speaker emphasizes that once one agrees to the existence of God, there should be no difficulty in accepting miraculous events, such as an angel freeing Peter from prison. The sermon also discusses the consequences of worldly fellowship, highlighting that worldly pursuits ultimately lead to loss and destruction. On the other hand, the speaker emphasizes the importance of fellowship with believers and the power of prayer, using the example of the church in Adioc sending offerings and praying for Peter's release from prison.
A Great Nothing
By Thomas Brooks0The Illusion of Worldly HonorThe Transience of Earthly GloryJDG 1:7EST 7:10DAN 4:28ACT 12:23ACT 25:23Thomas Brooks emphasizes that worldly honor and glory are ultimately meaningless, describing them as mere illusions and shadows that lead one away from true fulfillment. He illustrates this point by referencing historical figures like Adonibezek, Nebuchadnezzar, and Herod, who all experienced a fall from greatness, highlighting the transient nature of earthly accolades. Brooks warns that the pursuit of such honors can lead to spiritual ruin, as they are akin to a deceptive wind that can swiftly carry one to destruction. The sermon serves as a reminder to seek lasting value in spiritual matters rather than the fleeting recognition of the world.
Piercing Words
By Dick Brogden0ZEC 12:10ACT 12:23ACT 13:7ACT 13:9HEB 4:12JAS 3:1Dick Brogden emphasizes the power of words and the importance of allowing the Holy Spirit to control our tongues. He contrasts the folly of human speech, which can lead to destruction like in the case of Herod, with the magnification of God through empowered speech. The filling of the Spirit results in words that pierce through deception and lead to belief, as seen in Paul's encounter with Elymas and Sergius Paulus.
The Divine Protection of the Child Jesus
By John F. Walvoord0ISA 11:1MAT 2:1ACT 12:23John F. Walvoord delves into the significant events surrounding the birth and childhood of Jesus as recorded in Matthew, focusing on the visit of the Magi. These wise men, students of astrology, followed a star to find the newborn King, causing turmoil in Jerusalem and troubling King Herod. Despite the Jewish leaders' knowledge of the prophecy of the Messiah's birthplace, they did not actively seek the child. The Magi, guided by a supernatural star, worshiped Jesus with fitting gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, then departed without returning to Herod. Joseph, warned by an angel, fled to Egypt with his family to protect Jesus from Herod's wrath, fulfilling prophecies and highlighting Christ's significance as the Son of God.
- Adam Clarke
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
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 honor that was due to God alone. See on Act 12:21 (note). 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 to the circumstances of the case as related by Josephus. And gave up the ghost - That is, he died of the disorder by which he was then seized, after having lingered, in excruciating torments, for five days, as Josephus has stated. Antiochus Epiphanes and Herod the Great died of the same kind of disease. See the observations at the end of Act 1:26 (note) relative to the death of Judas.
John Gill Bible Commentary
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 the people) the king looked up, and saw an angel sitting over his head, whom he immediately understood to be the cause of evil things to him, as he had formerly been of good: the reason of the angel's smiting him was, because he gave not glory to God; or as the Jewish historian says, because he reproved not the flatterers, nor rejected their impious flattery, but tacitly took that to himself, which belonged to God: and he was eaten of worms: Beza's most ancient copy adds, "while he was alive"; Josephus only makes mention of pains in his belly, but these were occasioned by the gnawing of the worms: this was accounted by the Jews a very accursed death; they say (u), that the spies which brought an ill report on the good land, died this death: their account is this, that "their tongues swelled and fell upon their navels, and worms came out of their tongues and went into their navels, and out of their navels they went into their tongues,'' of this death died many tyrants, oppressors, and persecutors! as Antiochus, "So that the worms rose up out of the body of this wicked man, and whiles he lived in sorrow and pain, his flesh fell away, and the filthiness of his smell was noisome to all his army.'' (2 Maccabees 9:9) and Herod the great, the grandfather of this, according to Josephus (w); and Maximianus Galerius, according to Eusebius (x), and many others: and gave up the ghost: not directly, but five days after, as Josephus relates, in the fifty fourth year of his age, and when he had reigned seven years; but before he died, and as soon as he was smitten, he turned to his friends and said, I your God am obliged to depart this life, and now fate reproves the lying words you have just now spoke of me; and I who was called immortal by you, am led away to die, with more, as related by Josephus: by such a token as this, a man was discovered to be a murderer with the Jews; for so they say (y), that "out of the beheaded heifer went a vast number of worms, and went to the place where the murderer was, and ascended upon him, and then the sanhedrim laid hold on him and condemned him.'' (s) Ib. l. 18. c. 7. sect. 7. (t) Eccl. Hist. l. 2. c. 10. (u) T. Bab. Sota, fol. 35. 1. (w) Antiqu. l. 17. c. 6. sect. 5. (x) Hist. Eccl. l. 8. c. 16. (y) Targum Jon. in Deut. xxi. 8.