Herod's Death and the Church's Continued Growth
Acts 12:20-25
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Acts.12.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- δε: CONJ
- θυμομαχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- Τυριοις: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- και: CONJ
- Σιδωνιοις·ομοθυμαδον: NOUN,dat,pl,m
- δε: CONJ
- παρησαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- προς: PREP
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- πεισαντες: VERB,aor,act,ptc,nom,pl,m
- Βλαστον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- επι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοιτωνος: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- βασιλεως: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ητουντο: VERB,impf,mid,ind,3,pl
- ειρηνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δια: PREP
- το: ART,acc,sg,n
- τρεφεσθαι: VERB,pres,pass,inf
- αυτων: PRON,gen,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- χωραν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- απο: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- βασιλικης: ADJ,gen,sg,f
Parallels
- Acts 4:24 (verbal): Uses the same Greek concept of united action (‘with one accord’/ομοθυμαδόν); both passages describe groups acting together in response to a crisis.
- Acts 19:29 (verbal): Another Lucan use of ομοθυμαδόν/one accord for a city-wide, united movement—parallels the crowd’s communal petitioning or action in Acts 12:20.
- Esther 1:10 (structural): Mentions the king’s chamberlains/royal attendants and court officials; parallels the role of Blastus the king’s chamberlain as an intermediary between petitioners and the ruler.
- Ezekiel 27:17 (thematic): Speaks of Israel/Judah as merchants who traded with Tyre, reflecting Tyre and Sidon’s economic interdependence with surrounding powers—parallels Acts 12:20’s note that the cities sought peace because their country was sustained by the king’s domain.
Alternative generated candidates
- Now Herod was exceedingly displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they were united and came to him, and after making Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, they sought peace, because their country was nourished by the king's domain.
- Now Herod was angry with the inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon; they came to him with one accord, and after they had won over Blastus the king's chamberlain they sought peace, because their country depended on the king's for food.
Acts.12.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τακτη: ADJ,dat,sg,f
- δε: CONJ
- ημερα: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- Ηρωδης: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ενδυσαμενος: PART,aor,mid,nom,sg,m
- εσθητα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- βασιλικην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- καθισας: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,m,sg
- επι: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- βηματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- εδημηγορει: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- προς: PREP
- αυτους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- Esther 5:1-2 (structural): Both scenes place the monarch on his royal throne and involve royal apparel and a public audience — Esther approaches the king while he is on his throne, paralleling Herod’s throne-sitting and royal garb before the assembly.
- Matthew 27:27-31 (verbal): The soldiers clothe Jesus in a royal robe and mock his kingship; Acts 12:21 similarly emphasizes a king ‘putting on royal garments’ and a public display of kingship (though Herod’s act is genuine), creating a verbal parallel in the imagery of royal vesture and public spectacle.
- Luke 23:8-11 (thematic): Luke’s account of Herod Antipas questioning and mocking Jesus while seated in a royal context parallels the motif of a Herod on his throne presiding over an audience and delivering words to the crowd in Acts.
- Daniel 4:34-37 (allusion): Daniel depicts a king restored to his throne and royal apparel and—importantly—reflects on divine sovereignty over kings. Acts 12’s throne-and-robe scene and the ensuing divine judgment on Herod invite comparison with Daniel’s theological theme of God judging and humbling kings.
Alternative generated candidates
- On an appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat upon the throne and delivered an address to them.
- On a set day Herod, clothed in royal robes, took his seat on the throne and made an oration to them.
Acts.12.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- δημος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- επεφωνει·Θεου: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg+NOUN,gen,sg,m
- φωνη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- ανθρωπου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 14:11-15 (structural): Crowd in Lystra proclaims Paul and Barnabas to be gods (Zeus and Hermes); apostles reject deification—parallel episode of people ascribing divinity to human figures.
- Acts 28:6 (verbal): After Paul survives a snakebite the Maltese change their minds and say he is a god—another Lucan instance of bystanders calling a human a god.
- Romans 1:23 (thematic): Paul criticizes people who 'exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man,' thematically condemning the elevation of humans/created things to divine status.
- Colossians 2:18 (thematic): Warning against false humility and the worship/adoration of beings (e.g., angels) that leads to human exaltation—addresses the same problem of improper worship directed toward created persons or entities.
Alternative generated candidates
- And the people shouted, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
- The people cried out, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
Acts.12.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- παραχρημα: ADV
- δε: CONJ
- επαταξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- αγγελος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- κυριου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ανθ᾽ων: PREP
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δοξαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θεω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- γενομενος: VERB,aor,mid,ptc,nom,sg,m
- σκωληκοβρωτος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εξεψυξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 5:1–11 (structural): Immediate, miraculous death as direct divine judgment within the early church (Ananias and Sapphira struck down for deceit/refusal to honor God), paralleling an angelic act and sudden death in Acts 12:23.
- 2 Samuel 24:15–16 (thematic): An angel of the Lord brings sudden death as divine punishment on the people/kingdom—parallels the theme of an angelic agent executing God's judgment in Acts 12:23.
- 2 Chronicles 21:18–20 (verbal): The grotesque, bodily nature of the king's death (bowels/violent affliction) as divine punishment echoes the physical, shameful death 'eaten by worms' in Acts 12:23.
- Isaiah 66:24 (verbal): Uses worm imagery for post‑judgment humiliation and unending shame ('their worm shall not die'), which resonates with the image of being 'eaten by worms' in Acts 12:23 as a sign of divine retribution.
- Luke 12:20 (thematic): The theme of sudden, divinely‑ordained death coming upon the presumptuous or ungodly (the rich fool's soul required that night) parallels the sudden, punitive death of Herod for failing to give glory to God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give praise to God; and he was eaten by worms and died.
- Immediately, because he did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down; and he was consumed by worms and breathed his last.
Acts.12.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- λογος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ηυξανεν: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- επληθυνετο: VERB,impf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- Acts 6:7 (verbal): Same verbal theme: 'the word of God increased'—Acts repeatedly uses language of ὁ λόγος τοῦ θεοῦ growing as the narrative shows gospel expansion and disciple multiplication.
- Acts 19:20 (verbal): States that 'the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily'—very close wording and the same idea of the divine word spreading and gaining power.
- Colossians 1:6 (thematic): Speaks of the gospel 'bearing fruit and increasing' throughout the world—the broader Pauline theme of the gospel’s growth parallels Acts’ claim about the word's expansion.
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1 (thematic): Paul's request 'that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified' echoes the concern for the word’s free course and successful spread, connecting to Acts’ affirmation of its growth.
Alternative generated candidates
- But the word of God continued to grow and to be multiplied.
- But the word of God continued to grow and to be multiplied.
Acts.12.25 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Βαρναβας: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- δε: CONJ
- και: CONJ
- Σαυλος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- υπεστρεψαν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,pl
- εις: PREP
- Ιερουσαλημ: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- πληρωσαντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- διακονιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- συμπαραλαβοντες: VERB,aor,act,part,nom,pl,m
- Ιωαννην: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- επικληθεντα: VERB,aor,pass,part,acc,sg,m
- Μαρκον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Acts 13:13 (verbal): Both verses mention John (called Mark) and his movement to/with Jerusalem; Acts 12:25 records Barnabas and Saul returning to Jerusalem with John Mark, while Acts 13:13 records John Mark leaving the missionary band and returning to Jerusalem—a direct verbal/ narrative parallel and contrast.
- Acts 14:26–28 (thematic): Like Acts 12:25, these verses describe apostles (Paul and Barnabas) returning to their sending church after completing ministry and reporting what God had done—parallel pattern of mission, return, and report.
- Acts 15:36–41 (allusion): The sharp disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over taking John Mark on another journey presupposes the earlier association of John Mark with Barnabas and Paul (as noted in Acts 12:25), linking the episodes and explaining later split.
- 2 Timothy 4:11 (thematic): Paul’s later request that Mark be brought to him indicates Mark’s continued importance and restored relationship with Paul, connecting back to Mark’s early association with Barnabas and Saul in Acts 12:25.
Alternative generated candidates
- Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, and they took with them John, who was surnamed Mark.
- Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had fulfilled their ministry, and they took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came with one accord to him; and having gained over Blastus, the king's chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king's country for food.
On an appointed day Herod, arrayed in royal robes, sat upon the throne and delivered an address to them. And the people kept shouting, "The voice of a god, and not of a man!"
Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory; and he was consumed by worms and died. But the word of God continued to increase and to be multiplied.
Barnabas and Saul returned to Antioch, having completed their service, and they brought with them John, who was also called Mark.