20Now Herod was waging furious war with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. With one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus, the one over the king's bedchamber, they were asking for peace, because their region was nourished from the king's — from the royal. [12:21] On the appointed day Herod, having put on royal apparel and having sat down on the judgment seat, was making an address to them. [12:22] And the people were crying out, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" [12:23] Immediately then an angel of the Lord struck him, in return for which he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten by worms he breathed his last. [12:24] But the word of God was continuing to grow and was being multiplied. [12:25] Then Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, having fulfilled the mission, having taken along with them John, the one surnamed Mark.
ACT 12:20-25
The Death of Herod
In the world it was spoken into
In the 1st century, Herod Agrippa I was a client king under Roman authority, ruling Judea and surrounding regions. His relationship with cities like Tyre and Sidon was politically and economically significant, as these coastal cities relied on grain imports from Herod’s territories. The Tyrians and Sidonians sought peace through Blastus, the royal chamberlain, a position of immense influence in the king’s household, reflecting the Roman patronage system where intermediaries were crucial for negotiations. Herod’s public appearance in royal attire on the (a raised platform for speeches) was a display of power and authority, typical of Roman rulers seeking to assert dominance. The crowd’s acclamation of Herod as a god echoes the imperial cult, where rulers were often deified. His sudden death, described as being 'eaten by worms' , would have been seen as divine retribution, a common motif in Jewish and Greco-Roman thought for those who arrogantly claimed divine honors.
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How other translations render this
ACT 12:20
- KJV
- And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country.
- BSB
- Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the kingʼs chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the kingʼs country for food.
- Koinōnos
- Now Herod was waging furious war with the Tyrians and the Sidonians. With one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus, the one over the king's bedchamber, they were asking for peace, because their region was nourished from the king's — from the royal.
ACT 12:21
- KJV
- And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
- BSB
- On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.
- Koinōnos
- On the appointed day Herod, having put on royal apparel and having sat down on the judgment seat, was making an address to them.
ACT 12:22
- KJV
- And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
- BSB
- And they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”
- Koinōnos
- And the people were crying out, "The voice of a god and not of a man!
ACT 12:23
- 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.
- BSB
- Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Koinōnos
- Immediately then an angel of the Lord struck him, in return for which he did not give the glory to God, and having been eaten by worms he breathed his last.
ACT 12:24
- KJV
- But the word of God grew and multiplied.
- BSB
- But the word of God continued to spread and multiply.
- Koinōnos
- But the word of God was continuing to grow and was being multiplied.
ACT 12:25
- KJV
- And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
- BSB
- When Barnabas and Saul had fulfilled their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, bringing with them John, also called Mark.
- Koinōnos
- Then Barnabas and Saul returned to Jerusalem, having fulfilled the mission, having taken along with them John, the one surnamed Mark.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
ACT 12:20
- <the>:The word translated 'quarreling' here implies a deep-seated, passionate anger or indignation, not just a simple disagreement.
- over:The term translated 'chamberlain' refers to an officer in charge of the royal bedchamber, indicating a position of significant trust and access to the king.
ACT 12:21
- throne:The word translated 'throne' more literally means a 'raised platform' or 'judgment seat,' emphasizing Herod's role as a judge or authority figure making a public pronouncement.
ACT 12:23
- eaten by worms:The word translated 'eaten by worms' is a vivid, single compound word in the original, emphasizing the gruesome and complete nature of his demise.