Acts 12:22 kjv
And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:22 nkjv
And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"
Acts 12:22 niv
They shouted, "This is the voice of a god, not of a man."
Acts 12:22 esv
And the people were shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
Acts 12:22 nlt
The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, "It's the voice of a god, not of a man!"
Acts 12 22 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 12:23 | Instantly an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God glory. | Consequence of taking God's glory |
| 1 Kings 18:21-24 | Elijah mocks Baal prophets for calling on their god. | Contrast with true prophecy |
| Jeremiah 10:10-11 | God declares himself as the true and living God, in contrast to idols. | True God vs. false gods |
| Psalm 115:1-11 | Idolaters become like the idols they worship; trust in the Lord is our help. | Dangers of idolatry |
| Isaiah 42:8 | God declares, "I am the LORD; that is my name; I will not give my glory to another." | God's exclusivity of glory |
| Isaiah 44:24-25 | God alone created all things and refutes idols and their makers. | God's unique creative power |
| Daniel 4:30 | Nebuchadnezzar is humbled for boasting about his great works and splendor. | Similar divine judgment for pride |
| Matthew 4:10 | Jesus rebukes Satan, saying to worship only the Lord your God. | Jesus’ command on worship |
| John 5:23 | "whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him." | Honoring the Son honors the Father |
| John 10:31-33 | Jewish leaders try to stone Jesus for blasphemy when he claims to be God. | Claims of divinity are serious |
| 2 Thessalonians 2:4 | The "man of lawlessness" will oppose and exalt himself over everything called God. | Future deception |
| Revelation 13:5-6 | The beast is given authority and speaks blasphemies against God. | Similar divine attribution |
| Romans 1:25 | They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things. | Worshiping creation over Creator |
| Psalm 97:7 | "Let all worshipers of images be put to shame, who make their boast in idols." | Shame of idol worship |
| 2 Chronicles 16:9 | The eyes of the LORD range over all the earth, to encourage those whose whole heart is toward him. | God seeks sincere hearts |
| Amos 5:26 | "You shall take up Sikkuth your king, and Kaiwan your star images, the gods you made for yourselves." | Idolatry in ancient Israel |
| Acts 14:11-13 | The crowd in Lystra tried to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas, calling them gods. | Similar incident with Paul & Barnabas |
| Genesis 11:4 | Men attempt to build a tower to reach the heavens, seeking to make a name for themselves. | Human pride and self-exaltation |
| Deuteronomy 32:39 | "See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god besides me." | God's singular divinity |
| Wisdom of Solomon 13:1-9 | Condemns idolaters who worship created things rather than the Creator. | Philosophical condemnation of idolatry |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 22 Meaning
The people listening declared that the voice of a god, not a human, spoke through Herod. This reaction stemmed from Herod's apparent divine honor.
Acts 12 22 Context
This verse occurs in Acts chapter 12, which describes intense persecution of the early church. King Herod Agrippa I had James, the brother of John, killed with a sword and, seeing that this pleased the Jews, proceeded to arrest Peter as well, intending to do the same. Peter was miraculously delivered from prison by an angel. Afterward, Herod went from Judea to Caesarea, where he was celebrating games in honor of the emperor. It was during a public address to the people of Tyre and Sidon that the people declared him a god.
Acts 12 22 Word Analysis
- And (kai, και): A conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses, indicating addition or sequence. Here it links the preceding actions of Herod to the people's reaction.
- The people (ho laos, ὁ λαός): Refers to the assembled populace. In this context, it highlights the collective response of the crowd. This term is often used in the Septuagint (LXX) to refer to the people of Israel, but here it refers to a Gentile audience.
- And (de, δὲ): Another conjunction, often adversative or sequential. It marks a shift or contrast to what has just been described or the introduction of a new, related element.
- With (ē): A particle introducing a direct statement or quote.
- a voice (phone, φωνή): Sound, voice, utterance. It points to the audible declaration made by the crowd.
- of God (theou, θεοῦ): Genitive case of theos, meaning God. The declaration is that the voice is divine, not human. This is a critical elevation to divinity.
- you are (sy ei, σὺ εἶ): The second person singular pronoun and the second person singular present indicative of the verb "to be." A direct affirmation of identity.
- not (ouchi, οὐχί): A strong negation.
- a man (anthrōpos, ἄνθρωπος): Human being, man. The contrast is sharply drawn between divine and human nature.
Words-group analysis:
- "the voice of God, you are not a man": This collective exclamation represents a pagan acclamation of deity. It reflects a cultural context where rulers might be deified, especially in the Roman and Hellenistic world. Such pronouncements were intended to confer divine status, a clear affront to the singularity of God proclaimed by Christians. This mirrors pagan practices seen elsewhere in the New Testament (e.g., Acts 14:11-13 in Lystra where Paul and Barnabas are called Zeus and Hermes).
Acts 12 22 Bonus Section
The Jewish historian Josephus recounts a similar event where Herod Agrippa I received divine honors in Caesarea. He describes a splendid festival held in his honor, and the people there in great multitudes celebrated him with acclamations of his divinity. This historical account lends credence to the biblical narrative and shows it was not an isolated incident but reflective of the political and cultural environment of the time. Herod’s embracing of this blasphemous title led to his swift and horrific demise, reinforcing the message that God does not share His glory with any man (Isaiah 42:8). This event serves as a stark warning against pride and the usurpation of divine attributes.
Acts 12 22 Commentary
Herod Agrippa I, eager to please his audience, delivered a speech that stirred them greatly. In their enthusiasm, the crowd proclaimed his voice to be that of a god, attributing divine qualities to him rather than recognizing him as a mere mortal. This declaration is significant because it places Herod in the position of receiving worship, a right belonging solely to God. This act of receiving such honor, instead of directing it to God, directly leads to divine judgment as described in the following verse. It underscores the biblical principle that true worship belongs only to the Creator.