Then he [Herod} went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there. 20 Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king’s chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king’s country. 21 On an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and began delivering an address to them. 22 The people kept crying out, “The voice of a god and not of a man!”23 And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died. Acts 12:19–23
On the heels of slaying James the brother of John, jailing Peter with the intent of doing the same to him, then the execution of Peter’s guards ranging from four to sixteen men, Herod Agrippa I went down from Judea to Caesarea on the coast, perhaps to rest from all the pressures of his tyrannical reign. So many subjects to keep under his thumb. So little time.
Even the people of Sidon and Tyre further up the coast drew his ire. They were siphoning Judea’s wheat in a time of famine. To calm him down they apparently bribed one of his men in order to assuage his anger in his presence. Herod made most of this opportunity to put them in their place, arrayed in a shiny silver cloak and assuming his position on the judgement seat, he began to pontificate. With an audience wanting only to curry his favor, they rained down upon him a chorus of adulation.
Herod being part Jew should have known better than to allow the praise to waft too long in the air without deflecting honor to God above, but he did, and he was promptly stuck down by an angel from on high, who had been quite busy of late orchestrating the escape of Peter.
Herod’s death was not swift but excruciatingly gruesome and painful, being slowly eaten from the inside by worms of some sort.
There is appointed each man a time to die, but Herod seemed to hasten his death by his pride. This story serves to remind us that no matter how vile and vicious a ruler might be, he remains subject to God Almighty. With every passing breath only God’s grace keeps a wicked king alive, wishing to extend him one last chance to give Him glory. Rarely does this ever happen, as we learn later when Herod Agrippa II gets his chance and wiffs. Now Nebuchadnezzar, perhaps, he’s the exception after he was taught a lesson.
36 At that time my reason returned to me. And my majesty and splendor were restored to me for the glory of my kingdom, and my counselors and my nobles began seeking me out; so I was reestablished in my sovereignty, and surpassing greatness was added to me.37 Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride.” Daniel 4:36-37
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