NOTES for Act 12:1-25

Another Herod was behind the new persecution. The name itself is innocent, yet once again a cruel ruler brought it into disgrace. The scale of the persecution is evident even from the fact that, after Peter’s miraculous deliverance from prison, the brethren found it hard to believe that he was free. Surely they should have remembered that an angel had already freed Peter, but apparently, after the murder of James, it had become harder to believe in a happy outcome.

But Herod’s opposition to God brought about his own downfall, and quite soon. He must have been pleased to hear the flattering cries addressed to him: the voice of a god, and not of a man, which is why he did nothing to stop such servility. In doing so, however, Herod allowed himself to receive honours that were unthinkable in Israel even for a king. The kings of Judah were regarded as called by God to serve, but, unlike pagan kings, they were never deified. By accepting pagan adulation, Herod allowed himself to be made into an idol, becoming a living idol and depriving the Creator of the reverence due to Him. But God is not mocked.

After mentioning Herod’s death, the narrative immediately turns to a calm account of how the Word of God spread. Everything hostile that sets itself against Christ collapses, while His disciples continue their service.