Acts 12:20-25 20Now He was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and with one mind they came to him, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country needed food from the king’s country. 21On an appointed day Herod, after putting on royal robes and sitting upon the throne, gave a public address to them. 22And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, since he did not give God the glory, and after being eaten by worms, he breathed his last. 24But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25And Barnabas and Saul returned, having completed their ministry in Jerusalem, bringing along John, whose other name was Mark.
This chapter ends with the sad outcome for Herod. Luke does not state why Herod was angry with the cities of Tyre and Sidon. Apparently, these cities relied on the generosity of or perhaps trade with Herod. A trade war could be devastating to these cities. Both cities were along the Mediterranean coast north of Caesarea. They needed help with food supplies, so they approached the king’s assistant named Blastus, seeking peace so that they could receive food and perhaps have trading take place again.
In response, Herod seems to have wanted to make a big impression and show his splendor and power to the representatives of Tyre and Sidon. According to Josephus (Antiquities 19.343–52), the appointed day was a special holiday in honor of Caesar. It was a great time for Herod to show off his majesty and oratorical ability, which he may have learned during his years of education in Rome. The people were either impressed or tried to flatter Herod’s pride. Apparently, Herod did not deny their proclamation of him as the voice of a god. The divine response in verse 23 indicates that Herod must have enjoyed the attention and filled his heart with pride. He was essentially blaspheming God because he did not glorify God but himself. According to Josephus, Herod became sick in the stomach and died three days later. Luke indicates that Herod’s problem came as a result of an angel striking him down.
In spite of the challenges from Herod, the Jewish leaders, and any Roman officials, the gospel continued to be preached. The church received two major confirmations from God: the miraculous escape of Peter and the untimely and mysterious death of Herod Antipas. The word of God did not simply go out in whispers with a few people believing, but it multiplied. The believers shared their faith with exponential results. This chapter ends with a transition in verse 25 that prepares for the next major section of Acts. The rest of Acts shifts to the wider mission outside of Jerusalem, with a focus on the ministry of Barnabas and Saul. John Mark had joined them in Jerusalem, and all three went to Antioch. Barnabas and Saul had completed their mission of bringing the special offering to help the believers survive the famine. Luke concludes another long story that shows the unstoppable power of God and the faith of the early Christians. The believers had some hard lessons to learn. Their faith was tested. But through it all, they came out stronger and more confident in the truth of the good news of Jesus Christ.
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