Herod Dies - Acts 12

Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. ²⁰ He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.

²¹ On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. ²² They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” ²³ 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.

²⁴ But the word of God continued to spread and flourish.

Caesarea is where the Romans like to reside.  They don’t like Jerusalem.  Representatives from Tyre and Sidon are there to make peace since they depend upon the Romans for their food.  Remember that there is a famine in the land. 

Let’s put this into perspective.  They despise the Romans who are ruling over them.  However, they are depending upon their structure of society for food.  Jesus said He is bread of life.  The Christian church is helping one another for food.  They are under persecution.  I would imagine that the local community transacts with them last. 

While Herod is giving a speech in his royal attire the people who depend upon him for their food praise him as a god.  Herod takes credit as though he was more than his fellow man.  He accepts s the praise of others to tell him he is a god and believes all is well because of him.  But God is not amused and immediately strikes him down. 

God will not share His glory with anyone.  God says in Isaiah 42:8, “I am the Lord; that is my name!  I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.”

Is there any entity that you depend upon for life?  Do you praise it or do you praise God for providing it?  There is a difference.  Had the people here praised God for allowing Herod to deal with them, Herod might would have lived longer.  Whenever we don't give God the glory and depend exclusively upon Him, we can be sure we are no longer living in faith, but in fear.

Something new is stated here.  It’s not the church of God that spreads and flourishes but the Word of God.  The gospel message is being spread and it is flourishing!

Is the Word of God flourishing in your church? In your home? In your life?