Acts Chapter 12 begins with this verse…
Now about that time Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.
It goes on to say this:
Then he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to seize Peter also. Now it was during the Days of Unleavened Bread. 4 So when he had arrested him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four squads of soldiers to keep him, intending to bring him before the people after Passover.
A little later in the chapter we find out that Peter is miraculously freed from his prison…
5 Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church. 6 And when Herod was about to bring him out, that night Peter was sleeping, bound with two chains between two soldiers; and the guards before the door were keeping the prison. 7 Now behold, an angel of the Lord stood by him, and a light shone in the prison; and he struck Peter on the side and raised him up, saying, “Arise quickly!” And his chains fell off his hands. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Gird yourself and tie on your sandals”; and so he did. And he said to him, “Put on your garment and follow me.” 9 So he went out and followed him, and did not know that what was done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. 10 When they were past the first and the second guard posts, they came to the iron gate that leads to the city, which opened to them of its own accord; and they went out and went down one street, and immediately the angel departed from him. 11 And when Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I know for certain that the Lord has sent His angel, and has delivered me from the hand of Herod and from all the expectation of the Jewish people.”
In verse 18 Luke tells us that the escape of Peter caused “no small stir” among the soldiers about what had become of him. Luke’s word choice made me smile because they tell us there was a mighty big stir…
18 Then, as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers about what had become of Peter. 19 But when Herod had searched for him and not found him, he examined the guards and commanded that they should be put to death.
And he went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Herod was a cold-blooded killer. People’s lives mattered not to him. Herod cared only for Herod. He was hard-hearted, filled with self-importance and clearly had delusions of grandeur. By commanding the death of the guards he is saying that he did not believe that Peter’s escape from prison was orchestrated by God…that he held the guards responsible. Then Herod himself escapes to Caesarea which, according to what I read, was a resort area on the Mediterranean where the Roman headquarters were located.
Here in Caesarea, we find him sitting on his throne with the people hailing him as deity.
So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 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. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.—Acts 12:21-24
Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. What a fitting end. Herod not only refused to acknowledge God in Peter’s miraculous escape, but also allows the people to glorify him as God! The wages of sin…of pride and rebellion against God, who is our Maker…is death. Beloved…our God will not give His glory to another.
I am the LORD, that is My name;
And My glory I will not give to another,
Nor My praise to carved images.—Isaiah 42:8
Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches; but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the Lord.—Jeremiah 9:23-24
I confess there are times that I forget that in me nothing good dwells. I forget that anything good in me is NOT me…it is Christ in me. Oh Father, by your Spirit make this real to me! By Your Spirit may all that is within me glorify Your name. May my every breath give You all the praise!
1 Give unto the LORD, O you mighty ones,
Give unto the LORD glory and strength.
2 Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.—Psalm 29:1-2
