Dig Deeper - Acts Chapter 12: Herod's Demise — Awake Us Now

Herod Agrippa I

Ruled 41-44 A.D.
Grandson of King Herod the Great
Imprisoned Peter during Passover in 42 or 43 A.D.
He died before Passover of 44 A.D.

Herod went from Judea to Caesarea following Peter's angelic escape from prison. Herod was quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They joined together asking for an appointment with Herod requesting for peace as they depended on Herod for their food supply.

From writings from Flavius Josephus "Antiquities of the Jews, Book 19" (Translator: Paul L. Maier) Josephus tells us that Herod met with the representatives of Tyre and Sidon in the theater at Caesarea. (Pastor shares pictures of the restored theater today.)

Josephus goes on to share that as Herod entered the theater, "dressed in a garment of woven silver, … his flatterers at once started addressing him as a god." This is just what the Luke (author of Acts) tells us in verses 21-22. "… Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne …. They shouted, 'This is the voice of a god, not of a man.'" Josephus also adds the following: "The king did not censure them nor reject their flattery as impious." (Josephus, Antiquities 19:343)

Continuing with Luke's narrative in Acts 12:23-24 we read, "Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. But the word of God continued to spread and flourish."

Josephus tells us that Herod, "died after five days of unremitting pain. He was 54 years old."

What do we learn?

The word of God endures forever
His word is faithful and true
Even when His people suffer greatly, in the end God wins and so will we.
This account gives a vivid reminder of the power of the Gospel of Jesus, the power of the Living God to comfort and strengthen His own, and the power of God to bring a new and just creation, a new heaven and a new earth. And that is what we await as we continue to walk with Him.

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