Acts 12:21 kjv
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
Acts 12:21 nkjv
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them.
Acts 12:21 niv
On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.
Acts 12:21 esv
On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
Acts 12:21 nlt
and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.
Acts 12 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 12:21 | On a set day Herod, clothed in royal apparel, sat on his throne... | The occasion and presentation |
| Acts 12:22 | And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of man!" | The people's blasphemous praise |
| Acts 12:23 | Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give God glory... | The immediate divine consequence |
| 2 Sam 7:15 | "My steadfast love shall not depart from him..." | God's faithfulness, contrasted |
| Ps 8:2 | "Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength..." | God's glory revealed, even through the weak |
| Ps 30:1 | "I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up..." | Praising God for deliverance |
| Ps 49:16-17 | "Be not afraid when a man becomes rich... For when he dies he will carry nothing away..." | The futility of earthly riches and pride |
| Ps 78:30-31 | "...but before he was satisfied, it was stopped, and God still held their hunger at bay..." | Divine judgment for rebellion |
| Ps 103:2-5 | "Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits... who satisfies you with good things..." | Praising God for all His blessings |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | The principle of pride leading to ruin |
| Prov 25:27 | "It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it honorable to seek honor for oneself." | Caution against seeking personal honor |
| Isa 2:11 | "The eyes of the LORD are held lofty, and the legs of men are humbled." | God's exaltation of Himself |
| Isa 42:8 | "I am the LORD; that is my name; my glory I give to no other..." | God's exclusive claim to glory |
| Jer 9:23-24 | "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom... but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me..." | True boasting in knowing God |
| Ezek 28:2,6 | "Because you say, 'I am a god...' therefore thus says the Lord GOD..." | Judgment on arrogance of a ruler |
| Dan 4:30 | "The king answered and said, 'Is not this great Babylon, which I have built...?'" | Nebuchadnezzar's pride and downfall |
| Dan 5:22-23 | "And you his son, O Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this..." | Belshazzar's judgment for pride |
| Rom 1:21 | "...though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks, but became futile in their thoughts..." | Failure to glorify God |
| 1 Cor 4:7 | "For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?" | Caution against boasting |
| Gal 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | The principle of sowing and reaping |
| James 4:6 | "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" | God's opposition to the proud |
| 1 Pet 5:5 | "Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for 'God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'" | Humility as a requirement |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 21 Meaning
The verse describes King Herod Agrippa I being consumed by worms and dying because he did not give glory to God. This was a divine judgment for his pride and blasphemous acceptance of worship from the people, which he should have attributed to God's power.
Acts 12 21 Context
This verse occurs within the narrative of Herod Agrippa I's reign as described in Acts chapter 12. Following the martyrdom of James and the imprisonment of Peter, Herod presented himself to the people of Caesarea. During a public festival in honor of Caesar, he wore his magnificent royal robes and addressed the assembled crowd. The people, deeply impressed and perhaps sycophantic, responded with shouts declaring his speech to be that of a god. It was in this moment of uncorrected blasphemy, as Herod implicitly accepted this divine honor, that God's judgment was executed upon him.
Acts 12 21 Word Analysis
- On (ἐν, en): A preposition meaning "in," "on," "at," indicating the time or circumstance.
- a set day (καθωρισμένην ἡμέραν, kathōrisménēn hēméran):
- καθωρισμένην (kathōrisménēn): Past passive participle of καθορίζω (kathorízō). Meaning "appointed," "fixed," "determined," or "prescribed."
- ἡμέραν (hēméran): Accusative feminine singular of ἡμέρα (hēméra), meaning "day."
- Combined: An appointed or set day. This signifies a predetermined or significant occasion, often tied to religious festivals or civic events.
- Herod (Ἡρώδης, Hērṓdēs): The name of King Herod Agrippa I, a descendant of Herod the Great.
- king (βασιλέα, basiléa): Accusative masculine singular of βασιλεύς (basileús), meaning "king."
- the king (βασιλεῖ, basileî): Dative masculine singular of βασιλεύς (basileús), "to/by the king."
- having adorned himself (ἐνδυσάμενος, endusaménos):
- Middle voice aorist participle of ἐνδύω (endýō). Meaning "to put on," "to clothe oneself with."
- Signifies actively putting on clothing, suggesting a deliberate and formal action.
- with (τοῖς, tois): Dative plural masculine article, "the."
- royal (βασιλικοῖς, basilikois): Dative plural masculine adjective from βασιλικός (basilikós), meaning "kingly," "royal," pertaining to a king.
- apparel (ἱματισμῷ, himatismō): Dative masculine singular of ἱματισμός (himatismós), meaning "garment," "clothing," "apparel." This word often refers to more substantial or outer garments.
- he sat (ἐκάθισεν, ekáthisen):
- Aorist active indicative verb, 3rd person singular of κάθημαι (káthēmai) or καθέζομαι (kathézesai), meaning "to sit," "to be seated."
- Indicates the action of sitting down.
- upon (εἰς, eis): Preposition meaning "into," "to," "upon," often indicating a destination or position.
- his throne (βῆμα, bēma): Accusative neuter singular of βῆμα (bēma), meaning "step," "raised platform," "judgment seat," or "tribunal." In this context, it refers to a raised seat of honor or authority, a throne.
Acts 12 21 Bonus Section
The specific affliction, "eaten by worms," may echo descriptions of divine judgment in the Old Testament, such as for figures like Antiochus Epiphanes, who suffered a similar agonizing end described in the Apocrypha (2 Maccabees 9:5-10). The imagery suggests a rapid and grotesque physical decay, a stark contrast to Herod's regal appearance. This visceral end serves as a powerful object lesson about the wages of sin, particularly the sin of pride and defiance against God. It reinforces the theme of God's active sovereignty over earthly rulers and the ultimate accountability of all men to Him.
Acts 12 21 Commentary
Herod Agrippa I, clothed in opulent royal garments, deliberately positioned himself on a raised platform. This display was not merely ceremonial; it was a public performance intended to showcase his status and authority. The people's reaction, calling him "the voice of a god," was a dangerous incitement that he allowed to persist. His failure to redirect their praise to God was a critical sin of pride. Divine judgment immediately followed this act of blasphemy, as an angel struck him, leading to his painful and humiliating death by being eaten by worms. This highlights God's intolerance for pride and the severe consequences of usurping divine honor. It underscores the biblical principle that true authority and success are from God and should be acknowledged as such.