THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES - Chapter 12 - Verse 23

Verse 23. And immediately the angel of the Lord. Diseases and death are, in the Scriptures, often attributed to an angel. See 2 Sa 24:16; 1 Ch 21:12,15,20,27; 2 Ch 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 neither rebuke them, [the people,] nor reject their

impious flattery. A severe pain arose in his belly, and

began in a most violent manner. And when he was quite worn

out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this

life, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and the seventh

of his reign."

Josephus does not mention that it was done by an angel, but says that when he looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a rope over his head, and judging it to be an evil omen, he immediately became melancholy, and was seized with the pain.

Because he gave not God the glory. Because he was willing himself to receive the worship due to God. It was the more sinful in him as he was a Jew, and was acquainted with the true God, and with the evils of idolatry. He was proud, and willing to be flattered, and even adored. He had sought their applause; he had arrayed himself in this splendid manner to excite their admiration; and when they carried it even so far as to offer Divine homage, he did not reject the impious flattery, but listened still to their praises. Hence he was judged; and God vindicated his own insulted honour by inflicting severe pains on him, and by his most awful death.

And he was eaten of worms. The word used here is not elsewhere found in the New Testament. A similar disease is recorded of Antiochus Epiphanes, in the Apocrypha; 2 Mac. 9:5,

"But the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, smote him with an

invisible and incurable plague; for a pain in the bowels,

that was remediless, came upon him, and sore torments of the

inner parts, (yet. 9,) so that worms rose up out of the body

of this wicked man," etc.

Probably this was the disease known as morbus pedicularis. It is loathsome, offensive, and most painful. See the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, described in 2 Mac. 9. With this disease also Herod the Great, grandfather of Herod Agrippa, died. Josephus, Antiquities, b. xvii. chap. 6, § 5. Such a death, so painful sudden, and loathsome, was an appropriate judgment on the pride of Herod. We may here learn,

(1.) that sudden and violent deaths are often an act of direct Divine judgment on wicked men.

(2.) That men, when they seek praise and flattery, expose themselves to the displeasure of God. His glory he will not give to another.

(3.) That the most proud, and mighty, and magnificent princes, have no security of their lives. God can in a moment—even when they are surrounded by their worshippers and flatterers—touch the seat of life, and turn them to loathsomeness and putrefaction. What a pitiable being is a man of pride receiving from his fellow-men that homage which is due to God alone! See Isa 14.

(4.) Pride and vanity, in any station of life, are hateful in the sight of God. Nothing is more inappropriate to our situation as lost, dying sinners, and nothing will more certainly meet the wrath of heaven.

(5.) We have here a strong confirmation of the truth of the sacred narrative. In all essential particulars, Luke coincides in his account of the death of Herod with Josephus. This is one of the many circumstances which go to show that the sacred Scriptures were written at the time when they professed to be; and that they accord with the truth. See Lardner's Credibility, part i. chap. 1. & 6.

{+} "gave up the ghost" "expired"