Acts 12 23

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 verses

Acts 12 23 Meaning

Acts 12:23 describes the swift and horrific demise of King Herod Agrippa I, who was struck down by an angel of the Lord because he accepted divine adulation from the people, failing to give glory to God. His death was immediate, and his body was consumed by worms. This verse powerfully demonstrates God's immediate judgment against pride, self-exaltation, and the blasphemous appropriation of divine honor, asserting His absolute sovereignty over earthly rulers.

Acts 12 23 Context

This verse concludes a critical section in Acts 12 that vividly contrasts the Lord's power to protect His church with His judgment upon those who oppose it. The chapter begins with Herod Agrippa I executing James, the brother of John, and then imprisoning Peter with the intention of further persecution after Passover. However, Peter is miraculously delivered from prison by an angel, thwarting Herod's plans. Immediately following this divine intervention on behalf of the church, Herod Agrippa I goes to Caesarea, where he presides over a public festival and addresses representatives from Tyre and Sidon, who sought peace. Adorned in magnificent royal robes, his speech captivated the people, who acclaimed him with the cry, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!" Rather than rebuking this blasphemous flattery and giving the glory to God, Herod welcomed it. Acts 12:23 directly describes the divine consequence of that specific act of pride, bringing a sudden end to the very king who sought to suppress the early Christian movement. Historically, Herod Agrippa I had cultivated a public image pleasing to both Jews and Romans. His death was significant in removing a powerful persecutor of the nascent church.

Acts 12 23 Word analysis

• Immediately (Παραχρῆμα, Parachrēma): This adverb signifies swiftness and lack of delay, emphasizing that the judgment was instantaneous. It underscores the divine promptness in response to Herod's blasphemous acceptance of glory. This choice of word by Luke heightens the dramatic impact and clearly links cause and effect, illustrating that God's justice is not deferred.
• an angel of the Lord (ἄγγελος Κυρίου, angelos Kyriou): This phrase consistently identifies a divine messenger directly from God throughout the Old and New Testaments. It confirms that Herod's death was not a natural illness but a direct, supernatural act of divine judgment. This angel is not a symbolic figure but a literal agent of God's will.
• struck him down (ἐπάταξεν αὐτόν, epataksen auton): The verb patassō denotes a forceful, decisive blow, often used in scripture for divine or authoritative striking. It implies an act of physical infliction by the angel, leaving no ambiguity about the cause of Herod's immediate illness.
• because he did not give God the glory (ἀνθ’ ὧν οὐκ ἔδωκεν τὴν δόξαν τῷ Θεῷ, anth' hōn ouk edōken tēn doxan tō Theō): This is the crucial causal clause, stating the precise reason for the judgment. Herod's sin was not merely accepting praise, but actively failing (ouk edōken – "did not give") to acknowledge that all glory (doxa, honor, recognition of supreme worth) belongs to God alone. He essentially usurped divine prerogative by basking in praise that elevated him to god-like status. This directly transgresses the First Commandment against having other gods and the prohibition of idolatry.
• and he was eaten by worms (καὶ γενόμενος σκωληκόβρωτος, kai genomenos skōlēkobrotos): This graphic term, meaning "worm-eaten," describes a loathsome and ignominious decomposition of the body while still alive. This is not simply a symptom of illness, but a specific, degrading form of judgment, emphasizing the full humiliation of one who exalted himself to divinity. Such a fate often appeared in ancient literature as a characteristic punishment for tyrants and oppressors, signifying deep corruption and decay.
• and died (ἐξέψυξεν, exepsyxen): From ekpsychō, meaning "to breathe out one's life" or "to expire." It denotes the absolute and definitive cessation of life, the finality of God's judgment.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down": This phrase highlights divine sovereignty and prompt action. God's agent (the angel) delivers an instant and decisive judgment, directly countering Herod's attempt to exercise ultimate authority and harm the church. It serves as a stark reminder that earthly power is utterly subordinate to heavenly authority.
• "because he did not give God the glory": This explicit declaration of motive is central to the passage's theological message. The reason for divine judgment is clearly identified as Herod's proud refusal to attribute ultimate honor and adoration where it is exclusively due – to God. It encapsulates the core sin of pride and blasphemy against the one true God, contrasting human arrogance with divine holiness.
• "and he was eaten by worms and died": This final, gruesome description details the physical manifestation of God's judgment. The "worm-eaten" condition is deeply humiliating and public, providing a visible, concrete, and shocking illustration of the decay and ultimate insignificance of a human who aspired to divine status. It underscores that all flesh, no matter how powerful or adorned, is utterly vulnerable and destined for decomposition, particularly when defying its Creator. The twin outcomes of being "eaten by worms" and "dying" signify a complete physical degradation alongside the termination of life.

Acts 12 23 Bonus section

The stark contrast between Peter's miraculous liberation by an angel in Acts 12:7-11 and Herod Agrippa I's death by an angel in Acts 12:23 underscores a critical theological message: the same divine power that protects and saves God's faithful servants also brings judgment upon those who oppose His will and arrogate His glory. This narrative pairing demonstrates God's consistent intervention, whether in salvation or in judgment. This serves as a significant theme throughout Acts—the sovereign Lord actively guides, protects, and avenges His church, ensuring that no human authority, however powerful, can thwart His purposes.

Acts 12 23 Commentary

Acts 12:23 presents a powerful and dramatic display of divine justice, encapsulating core biblical themes of God's sovereignty, the perils of human pride, and His active defense of His church. Herod Agrippa I's sin was not merely an act of pride, but a direct appropriation of glory meant only for God, placing him in direct opposition to the divine standard of worship. This was not an error of ignorance but a conscious acceptance of idolatrous praise in a context where the One God was known.

The "angel of the Lord" serves as a direct agent of God's judgment, emphasizing that this was a deliberate act of God, not merely a coincidence or a natural sickness. Luke’s description starkly contrasts with secular accounts (like Josephus) by making the theological causation explicit. The immediate nature of the strike ("immediately") highlights God's swiftness and decisiveness when His glory is usurped, particularly by those who persecute His people. The "worm-eaten" death is deeply symbolic, a physically repulsive and ignominious end that perfectly mirrors the spiritual corruption of one who attempted to ascend above his human station and claim divine honor. It is a graphic illustration of the perishable and humble nature of humanity, regardless of their earthly power or attire.

This verse stands as a stark warning against self-exaltation and a declaration that all glory and worship belong to God alone. It serves as a reminder to rulers, and indeed to all people, of their absolute accountability to God. For the early church, it provided profound encouragement: even amidst severe persecution, God Himself was actively at work, defending His people and bringing judgment upon their oppressors, ensuring His kingdom would prevail.