Acts 12:23
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.
Study Note
Study Note
The death of Herod Agrippa I — struck down by an angel 'because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last' — provides a narrative foil to the preceding account of Peter's miraculous release: human power opposed to God is struck down, while God's servant is freed. The historical event of Herod's death is recorded by Josephus (Antiquities 19.8.2), who describes similar symptoms at Caesarea Maritima, providing an unusual convergence of biblical and secular ancient historiography. The immediate contrast in verse 24 — 'But the word of God increased and multiplied' — is Luke's characteristic pattern of divine word triumphing over human opposition. The theological point is a recurring Lukan theme: those who usurp divine glory are subject to divine judgment (compare Daniel 4-5).
Other Translations
And immediately an angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.
and presently there smote him a messenger of the Lord, because he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten of worms, he expired.
And straight away the angel of the Lord sent a disease on him, because he did not give the glory to God: and his flesh was wasted away by worms, and so he came to his end.
Cross References
As yet exaltest thou thyself against my people, that thou wilt not let them go?
And Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews, …
For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land …
For the Lord will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when he seeth the blood upon the lintel, and …
And it came to pass, that at midnight the Lord smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from …
And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, that he died.
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord repented him of the evil, …
And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have …
And it came to pass that night, that the angel of the Lord went out, and smote in the camp …
So the Lord sent pestilence upon Israel: and there fell of Israel seventy thousand men.