Apparently neither Herod nor Byron grasped the foundational fact that God is in control.

Judgment for Pride (vv. 21-23)

On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 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 (Acts 12:21-23).

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This death was recorded by the Jewish historian Josephus who quotes Herod as saying, “I, who was called immortal by you, am now under sentence of death. But I must accept my lot as God wills it. In fact I have lived in no ordinary fashion but in the grand style that is hailed as true bliss.” Then Josephus comments, “Even as he was speaking these words, he was overcome by more intense pain. They hastened, therefore, to convey him to the palace; and the word flashed about to everyone that he was on the very verge of death . . . . Exhausted after five straight days by the pain in his abdomen, he departed this life in the fifty-fourth year of his life and the seventh of his reign” (Antiquities of the Jews XIX, 343-50).

Why did God kill Herod? Because he had killed James? No, that could have been done earlier. The text could not be more clear: “because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down.” Accepting praise as a god would have been common Roman behavior, but Herod was a Jew and knew better. Throughout the annals of history we have seen this arrogance over and over again as flimsy human leaders act like gods and don’t even recognize that they merely model the forthcoming Antichrist.

Impetuous for the Gospel (v. 24)

The close of this chapter is very much like Luke’s writing. His transitions end on an upbeat note. James is dead; Herod was eaten by worms; “But the word of God continued to increase and spread.” This is the end of Act III in the book of Acts. Act I ends at 5:42 and Act II at 9:31. But here we have the closing of the Jerusalem section and the next chapter will take us around the Mediterranean world.

What lessons have we learned in this chapter? Prayer changes things, but only what a sovereign God wants changed. The present world is full of prejudice and injustice, but God is in charge of His world and His church. Whatever happens, we always look to the future as verse 25 reminds us: “When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.” The first great missionary journey is about to begin.

Many years ago a bishop from the east coast visited a college president in the Midwest. The bishop explained to the president that the millennium must be coming soon because nothing more could possibly be invented. The president disagreed with that conclusion and claimed that human beings would fly within fifty years. The bishop was so angered by such a bizarre notion that he left the president’s house immediately. The bishop’s name was Wright, and he had two sons named Wilbur and Orville.

Whether you are in prison, your head is on the chopping block, or you are walking free in the street on the way to prayer meeting, never forget that God is in control of your life.

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Kenneth O. Gangel is Professor Emeritus of Dallas Theological Seminary and Scholar in Residence at Toccoa Falls College.