Acts 12 22

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 verses

Acts 12 22 Meaning

The gathered populace acclaimed King Herod Agrippa I's speech with fervent shouts, declaring that his voice and words emanated from a god and not a mere human. This was a clear act of deification, where the crowd attributed divine authority and being to a mortal ruler.

Acts 12 22 Context

Acts 12 recounts the intense persecution of the nascent church by King Herod Agrippa I. Having already executed James, the brother of John, Herod imprisoned Peter with the intention of executing him after the Passover. Peter's miraculous release through an angel underscores God's sovereignty over human rulers and plans. After Peter's escape, Herod moved to Caesarea, where he addressed an embassy from Tyre and Sidon who were seeking peace, as their region depended on Judea for food. On an "appointed day," dressed in dazzling royal robes and seated on his throne, Herod gave an address. Verse 22 captures the audience's response: they lauded him as a god, not a man. This adulation, accepted by Herod, directly leads to his immediate divine judgment in the subsequent verse (v.23). Historically, the Roman Empire, and regions under its influence, often deified emperors and rulers, especially in the East. Herod's acceptance of this worship stood in stark contrast to the exclusive worship due to the one true God, a central tenet of both Judaism and Christianity.

Acts 12 22 Word analysis

• And (Ὁ δὲ - Ho de): This connective particle smoothly transitions from Herod's royal display to the people's reaction, indicating a logical sequence in the narrative.
• the people (δῆμος - dēmos): Refers to the assembled multitude. This term can denote the common populace or, as here, a public gathering. It specifically includes the delegates from Tyre and Sidon, likely alongside Herod's own court and other onlookers, eager to flatter the powerful ruler.
• kept shouting (ἐπεφώνει - epephōnei): The Greek imperfect tense conveys a continuous or repeated action. It implies sustained and enthusiastic cries, suggesting an orchestrated acclamation rather than a single utterance. The verb itself means "to shout at" or "to cry out against," but in this context, "to shout praise."
• The voice (φωνὴ - phōnē): This refers to the sound of Herod's speech. The focus is on the origin of the voice, not just the content, leading to the attribution of its source as divine.
• of a god (Θεοῦ - Theou): Genitive of Theos (God). Here, without a definite article, it suggests a god or divine quality, directly attributing divinity to Herod. This phrase is the heart of the blasphemy and deification.
• and not (καὶ οὐκ - kai ouk): A strong, emphatic negation. This phrase highlights the complete rejection of Herod's human nature by the crowd in their acclamation. It signifies a definitive declaration, leaving no room for him to be considered merely human.
• of a man! (ἀνθρώπου - anthrōpou): Genitive of anthrōpos (man, human being). This term underscores the complete denial of Herod's mortality and humanity, setting him apart as belonging to a higher, divine realm in the eyes of his audience.

Words-group analysis

• The people kept shouting: This phrase emphasizes the collective, sustained, and public nature of the acclamation. It was not a private thought or a single exclamation but a repeated chorus from a significant audience, lending weight and validation (in their minds) to the praise.
• The voice of a god: This is the central declaration of the verse. It asserts that Herod's vocal presence and address transcended human limitations, aligning him with the divine. It represents ultimate flattery and an egregious usurpation of God's unique glory.
• and not of a man!: This negating clause is critical. It reinforces the initial deification by explicitly rejecting Herod's humanity. It moves beyond simply calling him "god-like" to a full assertion of his non-human, divine status, contrasting the finite with the infinite.

Acts 12 22 Bonus section

The incident occurs in Caesarea, a distinctly Roman city in Judea, contrasting with Jerusalem's Jewish identity. The use of "appointed day" (v.21) implies a formal occasion, suggesting a carefully constructed public image event where Herod aimed to display his power and secure political advantage over the delegates from Tyre and Sidon. The "royal robes" (v.21) mentioned would likely have been intricately woven with silver threads, designed to shimmer brilliantly in the morning sun, creating a powerful, awe-inspiring, and perhaps even 'other-worldly' visual effect for the crowd. This sensory experience would have heightened the emotional response and facilitated the crowd's hyperbolic pronouncements. The audience, particularly the people of Tyre and Sidon, had economic and political motives for their effusive flattery, as their very sustenance depended on Herod's favor, demonstrating how expediency can drive blasphemous praise. The entire event serves as a sharp polemic against the common practice of ruler cults in the Greco-Roman world, validating the exclusive worship of the one true God preached by the early church.

Acts 12 22 Commentary

Acts 12:22 marks a critical turning point in Herod Agrippa I's life and a profound theological statement. The crowd's acclamation, "The voice of a god and not of a man!", embodies ultimate human arrogance and idolatry. Herod, bedecked in regal splendor, knowingly accepted praise and adoration that rightfully belonged only to God. This moment highlights a pervasive danger throughout biblical history: humans usurping divine glory. The episode stands in stark contrast to the humble attitudes of God's true servants, like Peter and Paul, who vehemently refused to accept any form of worship or deification from people (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-15). God is utterly jealous for His glory (Isa 42:8) and will not permit mortals to take what belongs to Him alone. Herod's acceptance of this blasphemous flattery sealed his fate, leading to his swift and gruesome divine judgment in the subsequent verse, serving as a chilling reminder of God's absolute sovereignty and intolerance for such pride. It exemplifies how fleeting human praise and worldly power are in the face of divine justice.