Acts 12:23

Acts 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (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.
• New International Version (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.
• English Standard Version (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.
• New King James Version (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.

Context of Acts 12:23

21On an appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes and, taking his seat upon the throne, began to make a speech to them. 22The people were shouting, “The voice of a god and not a human!” Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down—because he did not give God the glory. And he was eaten by worms and died. 24But the word of God kept on growing and multiplying. 25And Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their service, taking along John (who was also called Mark).

Acts 12:23 word by word

παραχρῆμα δὲ ἐπάταξεν αὐτὸν ἄγγελος κυρίου ἀνθ᾽ ὧν οὐκ ἔδωκεν τὴν δόξαν τῷ θεῷ, καὶ γενόμενος σκωληκόβρωτος ἐξέψυξεν.¶Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• immediatelyπαραχρῆμαparachrēma · instantlyG3916
• the angelἄγγελοςaggelos · angelG32
• of the Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• smoteπατάσσωpatassō · to strikeG3960
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• becauseἀντίanti · forG473
• ·ὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• he gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
• notοὐou · noG3756
• Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
• the gloryδόξαdoxa · gloryG1391
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• he wasγίνομαιginomai · to beG1096
• eaten of wormsσκωληκόβρωτοςskōlēkobrōtos · worm-eatenG4662
• and gave up the ghostἐκψύχωekpsuchō · to expireG1634

Cross-references for Acts 12:23

• Exodus 12:12“For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night and strike down every firstborn, both men and animals, and I will execute judgments against all the gods of Egypt. I am Adonai.
• 1 Samuel 25:38About ten days later, Adonai struck Nabal and he died.
• 2 Samuel 24:17When David saw the angel that was striking down the people, he spoke to Adonai saying, “Behold, it is I who have sinned, and it is I who have done wrong! But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand be against me and against my father’s house.”
• 1 Chronicles 21:14So Adonai sent a plague upon Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell.
• 2 Chronicles 32:21Then Adonai sent an angel who annihilated every mighty warrior, commander and officer in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he withdrew in disgrace to his own land. When he entered the house of his god some of his own children struck him down with the sword.
• Acts 10:25As Peter entered, Cornelius met him and fell down at his feet and worshiped him.
• Acts 14:14But when the emissaries Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their clothes and rushed out among the crowd, crying out
• Exodus 9:17Yet still you exalt yourself over My people, by not letting them go.
• Exodus 10:3So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said to him, “This is what Adonai, the God of the Hebrews, says: How long would you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so they may serve Me.
• Psalms 115:1Not to us, Adonai, not to us, but to Your Name be the glory— because of Your love and Your faithfulness.
• Isaiah 37:23Whom did you taunt and blaspheme? Against whom did you raise your voice and haughtily lift up your eyes? Against the Holy One of Israel!
• Ezekiel 28:2“Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre, thus says Adonai Elohim: ‘So your heart is exalted and you say, “I am a god! I sit in the seat of the gods in the heart of the seas!” Yet you are human, not a god, even if you set up your heart like the heart of a god.
• Daniel 4:30Immediately the word about Ne­buchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from men, ate grass like an ox, and his body was drenched with the dew of heaven, until his hair had grown like eagles’ feathers and his nails like birds’ claws.
• Daniel 5:18Your majesty, God Most High gave your father Nebuchadnezzar the kingdom, as well as greatness, glory, and splendor.
• Luke 12:47“That slave who knew his master’s will but did not prepare or act according to his desire will be harshly whipped.
• 2 Thessalonians 2:4He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he sits in the Temple of God, proclaiming himself that he is God.

Commentaries on Acts 12:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23The angel of the Lord smote him - His death was most evidently a judgment from God. Because he gave not God the glory - He did not rebuke his flatterers, but permitted them to give him that honor that was due to God alone. See on Acts 12:21; (note). And was eaten of worms - Whether this was the morbus pedicularis, or whether a violent inflammation of his bowels, terminating in putrefaction, did not actually produce worms, which, for several days, swarmed…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And immediately the angel of the Lord - Diseases and death axe in the Scriptures often attributed to an angel. See 2 Samuel 24:16; 1 Chronicles 21:12, 1 Chronicles 21:15, 1 Chronicles 21:20, 1 Chronicles 21:27; 2 Chronicles 32:21. It is not intended that there was a miracle in this case, but it certainly is intended by the sacred writer that his death was a divine judgment on him for his receiving homage as a god. Josephus says of him that he “did neither…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-25Verses 20-25 Many heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours, but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the word and worship of the living God, to accept such idolatrous honours without rebuking the blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening fast for signal vengeance. God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be glorified upon those whom he is not glorified by. See what vile bodies we…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18-23When Peter was missing after a thorough search, Herod questioned the guards and executed them (see 16:27). However, Herod himself then experienced a painful death. God punished him for his pride when he accepted the people's worship. The ancient Jewish historian Josephus provides more details about the death of Herod Agrippa I (Josephus, Antiquities 19.8.1–2).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22-2322-23. the people gave a shout, &c.--Josephus' account of his death is remarkably similar to this [Antiquities, 19.8.2]. Several cases of such deaths occur in history. Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public spectacle.Read the comment

Topics related to Acts 12:23

• Angel (a Spirit)
• Caesarea
• Ghost
• Glorifying God
• Happiness
• Herod
• Jerusalem
• Self-Exaltation
• Sidon
• Tyre
• Worm

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Angel of the Lord
• Agrippa I.
• Angel
• Constantly
• Destroyer
• Drusilla
• Herod Agrippa I.
• Multiply

Commentaries on Acts 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings