Acts 12: Herod, Eaten Of Worms: Instantly? Later? Why At This Time?
Posted: Wednesday, February 08, 2012
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
The story of Peter’s incarceration, miraculous release and the resulting incident of Herod’s death, as recorded in Acts chapter 12, is interesting and sometimes people jump to conclusions which may not be accurate.
First, we need to understand that there were a number of Herods. This particular one was identified as Herod Agrippa I. There was a lengthy period when the Herod dynasty ruled. This was not the one who was reigning when Jesus was born, nor was it the one who succeeded that one. This Herod was befriending the Jews in many cases to keep them pacified and thereby, was persecuting the Christians. He had slain James, the brother of John, and since the Jews had commended him for it, he had caused Peter to be arrested and was to present him to the people (Jews) on the morrow. And there is no doubt that Peter would have then been beheaded as was James.
Herod had another castle in Caesarea and he went there to live for a period, some speculate that his health was bad at the time and he was resting. While there, the bible gives us this account:
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. (Acts 12:21-23 KJV)
There are numerous places in the Holy Bible where there is a time lapse that does not readily show. Although we have no concrete evidence that this passage includes one, it is my thought that it does. And, the Jewish Historian, Flavius Josephus, records such. Josephus was not inspired of God, so his works can never supersede that of the inspired writers. But the wording of the above passage leaves the possibility of a period between when the angel smote him until he died from being eaten of worms. Here is Josephus’ account of this incident:
"Herod, having reigned three years over ALL Judea, (he had reigned over the tetrarchy of his brother Philip four years before this,) went down to Caesarea, and there exhibited shows and games in honour of Claudius, and made vows for his health. On the second day of these shows, he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture most truly wonderful, and came into the theatre early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the first reflection of the sun's rays, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those who looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, 'He is 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.' Nor did the king rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, looking up, he saw an owl on a certain rope over his head, and immediately conceived that this bird was to him a messenger of ill tidings; and he fell into the deepest sorrow; a severe pain also arose in his bowels, and he died after five days' severe illness." (Josephus, Ant. lib. xix. cap. 8, sect. 2. {See Whiston's edition.})
Some have, mistakenly I believe, that the biblical account means that he was literally smothered in worms and eaten before the audience. I have an idea that Josephus has a more accurate description. And I see nothing about his account which would detract from the biblical version.
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