Acts 12:23 kjv
And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
Acts 12:23 nkjv
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
Acts 12:23 niv
Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
Acts 12:23 esv
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last.
Acts 12:23 nlt
Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people's worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
Acts 12 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Acts 12:23 | And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. | Divine judgment for pride/blasphemy |
| Deuteronomy 8:11-14 | "Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping his commandments and his rules and his statutes, which I command you today..." | Warning against forgetting God |
| Deuteronomy 28:58-59 | "If you do not exercise care to do all the words of this law that are written in this book, that you may fear this glorious and awesome name of the LORD your God, then the LORD will bring on you and your offspring extraordinary affliction, affliction without end, and serious and prolonged sickness." | Consequence of disobedience |
| 1 Samuel 2:3 | "Talk no more so very haughtily, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed." | Warning against haughtiness |
| Job 36:13 | "The godless in heart harbor indignation; they do not cry for help when he puts them in bonds." | Wicked hearts' response to affliction |
| Psalm 10:4 | "But in his insolence the wicked man does not seek the LORD; in all his plans there is no God." | Wicked man's rejection of God |
| Psalm 135:8 | "He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both man and beast." | God's striking judgments |
| Isaiah 2:11 | "The eyes of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of man shall be made low, and the LORD alone will be exalted on that day." | God's exaltation over pride |
| Isaiah 10:33-34 | "Behold, the Lord, the LORD of hosts, will strike the majestic tree with terrifying force, and the | Judgment on the proud |
| Jeremiah 9:23-24 | "Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom, nor the mighty man boast of his might, nor the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts, boast of this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD.’" | True boasting in the LORD |
| Jeremiah 17:5-6 | "Thus says the LORD: ‘Cursed be the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the LORD...’" | Curse on trusting in man |
| Ezekiel 28:2-3 | "Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, ‘Thus says the Lord GOD: Because your heart was proud, and you have said, “I am a god; I sit on the throne of God, in the midst of the seas,” yet you are but a man, and no god, though you make yourself like God...’" | Pride of princes likened to Tyre |
| Ezekiel 33:31 | "And they come to you as people come, and my people sit before you and hear your words, but they do not do them, for it is in their mouths; their hearts, however, are set on their gain." | Hypocrisy and lack of action |
| Romans 1:25 | "Because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." | Worshipping the creature |
| 1 Corinthians 10:7 | "Do not become idolaters as some of them did, as it is written, ‘The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.’" | Warning against idolatry |
| 2 Corinthians 5:10 | "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive his due, for the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." | Accountability for actions |
| Galatians 6:7 | "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap." | The principle of sowing and reaping |
| Revelation 19:11-16 | "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war... And on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God." | Christ's righteous judgment |
| Revelation 21:8 | "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." | Those destined for judgment |
| Revelation 22:12 | "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to pay each one for what he has done." | Christ's coming recompense |
Acts 12 verses
Acts 12 23 Meaning
This verse describes the immediate consequence of King Herod Agrippa I's judgment upon the people of Caesarea who insulted him. They praised him as a god, and he accepted their blasphemous acclamation. Consequently, he was struck down by the Lord because he did not give glory to God.
Acts 12 23 Context
Acts chapter 12 details the persecution of the early church by Herod Agrippa I. After executing James, the brother of John, he saw that this pleased the Jews. He then arrested Peter with the intention of executing him after Passover. However, Peter was miraculously delivered from prison by an angel of the Lord. Following Peter's escape, the guards were questioned and executed. Meanwhile, Herod traveled from Judea to Caesarea, where he was scheduled to hold a great festival to entertain the people. It was during this event, as the people of Tyre and Sidon flattered him with divine praise, that God's judgment fell upon him as recorded in this verse. The immediate context emphasizes Herod's pride and acceptance of divine honor, which directly leads to his demise. Historically, Herod Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great and ruled as king over parts of Judea. His reign was relatively short.
Acts 12 23 Word Analysis
- καὶ (kai): "and" - a conjunction used to connect clauses and indicate sequence or addition.
- εὐθέως (eutheōs): "immediately," "at once" - an adverb signifying instant action. This emphasizes the swiftness of divine retribution.
- ἀπατάξαι (apatasai): "to strike down," "to smite" - aorist infinitive of ἀπατάσσω (apataxxō), which means to strike a blow, often with a sense of fatal consequence. This implies a direct and fatal impact.
- αὐτόν (auton): "him" - masculine singular accusative pronoun referring back to Herod.
- ἄγγελος (angelos): "angel" - a messenger of God. This signifies that the striking force was supernatural and divine in origin, not a natural death.
- κυρίου (kuriou): "of the Lord" - genitive case, indicating possession or agency. The angel was acting on behalf of the Lord.
- ὅτι (hoti): "because," "that" - a conjunction introducing the reason for the angel's action.
- οὐκ (ouk): "not" - a strong negation.
- ἔδωκεν (edōken): "gave" - aorist indicative of δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning to give. This refers to withholding due recognition.
- τὴν δόξαν (tēn doxan): "the glory" - accusative singular feminine noun from δόξα (doxa). "Glory" in this context refers to honor, praise, and acknowledgment due to God alone.
- τῷ θεῷ (tō theō): "to God" - dative singular masculine noun from θεός (theos). The specific target of the withheld glory was God himself.
- καὶ (kai): "and" - connects the first cause to the immediate effect.
- σκωληκόβρωτος (skōlēkobrotos): "eaten by worms" - a compound adjective derived from σκώληξ (skōlēx), "worm," and βιβρώσκω (bibrōskō), "to eat." This is a vivid description of a gruesome, decomposed death, underscoring the judgment. It signifies a physical manifestation of God's displeasure.
- ἐξέψυξεν (exepsuxen): "breathed his last," "died" - aorist indicative of ἐκψύχω (ekpsuchō), meaning to breathe out one's last breath, to expire. It signifies the final moment of life.
Words Group Analysis
- "an angel of the Lord struck him": This phrase highlights the immediate and divine agency behind Herod's death. It’s not a coincidence but a direct response from heaven through an appointed messenger. This contrasts with the people’s attempt to confer godhood upon him; instead, God uses His heavenly host to assert His authority.
- "because he did not give glory to God": This is the crucial causal link. Herod's acceptance of divine worship, attributing godhood to himself, was an act of extreme pride and blasphemy. God’s law demands that glory belongs to Him alone (Isaiah 42:8).
- "eaten by worms and breathed his last": This descriptive detail emphasizes the horrifying nature of the judgment. It's a putrid death, a stark contrast to the divine honors he received, showing God's abhorrence of pride and revealing him to be mere flesh and subject to decay.
Acts 12 23 Bonus Section
This event mirrors historical accounts and parallels divine judgments on proud rulers found in scripture, such as the judgment on Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4) who also boasted and was struck down by God to acknowledge His sovereignty. The detail of being "eaten by worms" is graphic and aligns with curses associated with disobedience in the Old Testament, as well as prophetic descriptions of the consequences for those who oppose God. Josephus, a Jewish historian, also recorded Herod Agrippa I's death in similar terms, noting that he died after five days of severe abdominal pain, consistent with the biblical narrative, and his account supports the setting in Caesarea. The people's response was also characteristic of Hellenistic ruler cults that sought favor by deifying rulers.
Acts 12 23 Commentary
Herod Agrippa I's end serves as a stark biblical example of divine judgment against pride and the usurpation of God's glory. The people's flattery, equating him with God, was a grave offense. By accepting this, Herod compounded the sin, acting as if he were divine. The consequence was swift and horrifying: God, through an angel, struck him down, leading to a death characterized by putrefaction ("eaten by worms"). This event underscores a central biblical theme: God alone is sovereign and worthy of worship; He will not tolerate rivals or those who elevate themselves to His position. The verse reinforces the principle that genuine boasting is in knowing God, not in personal achievements or the praise of men. Herod’s death is a demonstration that all humans are mortal and accountable to the Creator, regardless of their earthly status or the accolades they receive.