Sermon Tone Analysis

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Herod Agrippa

Acts 12:

Herod was angry with Tyre and Sidon and so he came to their city with ill intent.

“Now Herod had been very angry,” could literally be translated, “Now Herod was in a hostile state of mind.”

The Bible does not tell us the cause of Herod’s anger, but what we do know from history is that Herod Agrippa was a very proud and vain man.

So it is likely that on some personal insult Herod purposed to cut off Tyre and Sidon from their supply of food.

Obviously, this raised some concerns for these cities.

So these cities befriended Blastus, the king’s aide, in order to ask for his help in convincing Herod to show mercy.

In response on a set day Herod shows up, arrayed in royal apparel, and sits on his throne and begins to address the people.

In response, playing off of the vanity of Herod, the people declare that the voice speaking to them is not that of a mere man.

No, it is the voice of a god.

Josephus, a Jewish historian of the first century, records the events this way.

"Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Caesarea [...]

There he exhibited shows in honor of the emperor [...] On the second day of the festival, Herod put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a truly wonderful contexture, and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment was illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays upon it.

It shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him.

At that moment, his flatterers cried out [...] that he was a god; and they added, 'Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.'

Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery.

But as he presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and he fell into the deepest sorrow.

A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner.

He therefore looked upon his friends, and said, 'I, whom you call a god, am commanded presently to depart this life; while Providence thus reproves the lying words you just now said to me; and I, who was by you called immortal, am immediately to be hurried away by death.

But I am bound to accept of what Providence allots, as it pleases God; for we have by no means lived ill, but in a splendid and happy manner.'

After he said this, his pain was become violent.

Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad that he would certainly die in a little time.

But the multitude presently sat in sackcloth, with their wives and children, after the law of their country, and besought God for the king's recovery.

All places were also full of mourning and lamentation.

Now the king rested in a high chamber, and as he saw them below lying prostrate on the ground, he could not himself forbear weeping.

And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life, being in the fifty-fourth year of his age, and in the seventh year of his reign."

(Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 19.343-350).

During this time in Rome, many heathen rulers claimed and received divine honors, but in the case of Herod, who knew the Word of God and that only God is to be worshipped, it was a far worse and traitorous affront to accept worship as a god - and he knew it!

In contrast to Herod, who was raised up as the second weapon against the church, was the church.

As Herod, who planned violence against the church, suffered a violent death the Word of God was growing and multiplying.

The First Missionary Journey

Called

In Cyprus: Opposed by the Devil

In Perga: Deserted by Mark

Paul considered the Act of John Mark desertion

However, Paul did later forgive and receive Mark

In Antioch of Pisidia: Received by the Gentiles

Suffering for Christ

h

Strengthening of Converts