Give Glory To God Acts 12:20-24 Glory; Death; Herod; God’s Preservation 7/29/18; Grace Church of Lockeford; 414; #48

Introduction “This is for the purpose of showing how the persecution of Agrippa I subsided.”1

“The early church had no “political clout” or friends in high places to “pull strings” for them. Instead, they went to the highest throne of all, the throne of grace. They were a praying people, for they knew that God could solve their problems. God’s glorious throne was greater than the throne of Herod, and God’s heavenly army could handle Herod’s weak soldiers any day or night!”2

“Having set the innocent Christian leader free, God now put the guilty Jewish Roman leader to death.”3

1. Because Glory Is His By Right Of Preservation v. 20 Having made – πείθω (peithō) persuade; convince. To persuade v. — to cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action. Verb, aorist, active, antecedent participle, plural, nominative, masculine.

“Perhaps the famine (Ac 11:28) made them the more urgent for reconciliation.”4

“If Judea was able to supply food to its neighbours in any quantity, this was clearly not the time of the famine mentioned in 11:28–30 (cf. 12:19, 25 notes on the dating of these events).”5

“Made their friend (πεισαντες [peisantes]). First aorist active participle of πειθω [peithō], to persuade. Having persuaded (probably with bribes as in Matt. 28:14).”6

“People cannot rate themselves higher than they deserve without opposing God, who commands all flesh to keep silence so that he may retain the preeminence.”7

2. Because Glory Is His By Right Of Ownership vv. 21-22 v. 21 Throne – βῆμα (bēma) judgment seat. Judgment seat n. — the physical seat (and surrounding structure) upon which a ruler or judge sat to issue official decisions. Noun (prepositional object), genitive, singular, neuter.

Oration – δημηγορέω (dēmēgoreō) deliver a public address. To deliver an oration v. — to address an audience formally; usually long and rhetorical and often pompous. Finite verb, imperfect, active, indicative, third person, singular.

v. 22

1 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ac 12:20–25. 2 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 455. 3 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 12:18. 4 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 189. 5 David G. Peterson, The , The Pillar Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 369. 6 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ac 12:20. 7 J. I. Packer, “Introduction,” in Acts, ed. Alister McGrath, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), Ac 12:20. “Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public spectacle.”8

3. Because Glory Is His By Right Of Being v. 23 Struck – πατάσσω (patassō) strike; hit. To strike down v. — to cause to die by a blow, especially suddenly. Finite verb, aorist, active, indicative, third person, singular.

“Both Luke and Josephus agree in saying that he was hailed as a god and not as a mere mortal, and in deprecating his tacit acceptance of such blasphemous adulation. (There is a further reminiscence of this in rabbinical tradition.)”9

“Divine retribution does not come upon him until he finally manifests his idolatrous self-glorification in a very public way (12:21–3).”10

“Adulation of kings was common in the ancient world, but no faithful Jew could accept divine honours in this way. Herod refused to give God the praise (doxa, ‘glory, praise’; cf. Rom. 1:21) which was due to him and had improperly allowed it to be ascribed to himself (cf. the charge against the Prince of Tyre in Ezk. 28:1–10 and contrast Paul and in :14–18).”11

“There is irony here too, for the man who was glorious on the outside was rotting of worms on the inside.”12

“Note that it is not enough to give God only half the honor due to him. Those who only submit themselves in part will be wholly humbled. Scripture denies us the honor of wisdom, virtue, and righteousness, and none of us can accept the least glory without robbing God. Scripture says that all who exalt themselves are making open war on God, and we all accept that we cannot do this without being destroyed.”13

Eaten by worms – σκωληκόβρωτος (skōlēkobrōtos) eaten by worms. Worm-eaten adj. — infected with a type of parasitic worm; probably one that is visible to the human eye. Predicate adjective, nominative, singular, masculine.

“On the death of Agrippa, Judaea reverted to administration by Roman governors. Three children of his figure later in the narrative of Acts: Agrippa the younger and Bernice (25:13), and Drusilla (24:24).”14

“The point is that God himself acts against those who usurp his position and claim divine honours for themselves.”15

8 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 189. 9 F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 242. 10 David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 368. 11 David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 369. 12 Ajith Fernando, Acts, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998), 364. 13 J. I. Packer, “Introduction,” in Acts, ed. Alister McGrath, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), Ac 12:23. 14 F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 242. 15 I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 5, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 225. “Instead of Peter being killed by Herod, it was Herod who was killed by Peter’s God! Perhaps the same angel who delivered Peter also smote the king. Herod contracted some affliction in his bowels and died five days later, according to Josephus. This was in A.D. 44.”16

“More important than the effect was the cause, namely Herod’s pride (cf. Isa. 42:8).”17

“Sometimes God uses the angels in punishing; but sometimes he makes the devils his executioners. He does this with his faithful servants as well as the reprobate.”18

4. Because Glory Is His By Right Of Purpose v. 24 Word – λόγος (logos) word; message. Word of God n. — the content of the communications or documents produced by, and representative of, God and His mind; often of a specific portion or topic (like the Gospel). Noun (subject), nominative, singular, masculine.

“This was more important than the fact that the persecutor of the church suffered retribution for his deeds. The work of God went on despite the death of James and the departure of Peter.”19

Grew – αὐξάνω (auxanō) increase; grow. To increase (undergo change) v. — to become bigger or greater in amount. Finite verb, imperfect, active, indicative, third person, singular.

Multiplied – πληθύνω (plēthynō) increase; grow; multiply. To multiply v. — to combine or increase by multiplication or as if by multiplication. Finite verb, imperfect, passive, indicative, third person, singular.

“The reaction from the death of James and the imprisonment of Peter.”20

“In the present report the progress and prosperity of the cause of the gospel are emphasized by contrast with the miserable end of the royal persecutor.”21

“Not only was the royal representative ignominiously swept from the stage, while his intended victim was spared to the Church, but the cause which he and his Jewish instigators sought to crush was only furthered and glorified. How full of encouragement and consolation is all this to the Christian Church in every age!”22

“The enemies of the gospel had attempted to hinder its progress in , but God enabled his word to ‘grow’ and ‘multiply’ (ēuxanen kai eplēthyneto).”23

“In spite of opposition and persecution the Lord sovereignly prospered the work of His church.”24

16 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 455. 17 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 12:21. 18 J. I. Packer, “Introduction,” in Acts, ed. Alister McGrath, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), Ac 12:23. 19 I. Howard Marshall, Acts: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 5, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1980), 225. 20 A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933), Ac 12:24. 21 F. F. Bruce, The Book of the Acts, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1988), 243. 22 Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 189. 23 David G. Peterson, The Acts of the Apostles, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Nottingham, England: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2009), 370. 24 Stanley D. Toussaint, “Acts,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 385. “Nothing seemed capable of stopping the expansion of the church. Corruption and contention in its ranks did not kill it (5:1–11; 6:1–7). Its religious enemies could not contain it (4:1; 8:1, 3; 11:19). Even Roman officials could not control it (vv. 1–23). In the next section we see that it broke out into Minor. ’ prediction that even the gates of Hades could not overpower it was proving true (Matt. 16:18; :8). God’s purposes will prevail!”25

“Persecution only promoted the Word.”26

“Luke’s purpose is not only to report what happened after Herod died, but also to convince us by this example that in every age God will do the same, so that the Gospel may break through every obstacle. The more the church is weakened, the more it will increase, through the heavenly blessing.”27

Conclusion “In contrast to the speech of Herod that brought on his destruction, the word of the true God—that is, the proclamation of Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of sins and new life in the Spirit—continues to grow and spread.”28

“The world still lives for praise and pleasure. Man has made himself his own god (Rom. 1:25). The world still lives on the physical and ignores the spiritual (see 1 John 2:15–17). It lives by force and flattery instead of faith and truth, and one day it will be judged.”29

25 Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 12:24. 26 Charles C. Ryrie, Acts of the Apostles, Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1961), 72–73. 27 J. I. Packer, “Introduction,” in Acts, ed. Alister McGrath, Crossway Classic Commentaries (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1995), Ac 12:24. 28 John D. Barry et al., Faithlife Study Bible (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016), Ac 12:24. 29 Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 455.