Acts 12:21Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

See how vainglorious this man was. Intending to grant them peace, he delivered an address. Josephus relates that he was clothed in a shining garment woven of silver.

"He put on royal apparel." Josephus says that Herod, when the next day came, arrived at the theater clothed in a garment wonderful in its weave, made entirely of silver. There the silver, as the first rays of the sun fell upon it, shone with a marvelous brilliance, with a play of light that struck and terrified those who beheld it.

Soon the judgment of God was revealed against the persecutor of the Church of Christ. Herod was angry for some reason with the Tyrians and Sidonians.

For the inhabitants of these coastal trading cities, Herod's possessions were the main place where goods brought from other countries were exchanged for grain, which they themselves did not cultivate.

It was therefore disadvantageous for them to be at odds with Herod. They sent chosen representatives to intercede for the restoration of the peaceful relations they had maintained until then with the ruler of Palestine.

With the help of Blastus, the king's chamberlain, whom the delegates succeeded in winning to their side, they obtained an audience with the king.

On the appointed day: on the day appointed for a solemn public audience with the ambassadors of the Tyrians and Sidonians. That this was a public audience in the midst of an assembly of the people is clear from what follows: the people cried out, v. 22.

Dressed in royal apparel: in full ceremonial royal attire. According to Josephus's account, this garment was made entirely of silver. Compare Chrysostom and Theophylact.

He sat on an elevated place: not on the royal throne, for this was amid a popular assembly. Comparing this with Josephus's account, one may think it was in a theater.

Rather, he sat on a special elevated place prepared for the king, like a tribunal, from which popular orators and judges delivered their speeches in public assemblies.

He spoke to them: that is, to the ambassadors of Tyre and Sidon, deciding in a public speech the matter for which they had come to the king's residence.

Herod's death was retribution for his self-exaltation and pride. Pleasing others by flattery, he himself desired to be flattered. For this reason he dressed so magnificently and spoke so eloquently before the envoys of Tyre and Sidon. Struck by the sight of his shining garments and refined speech, they said, "This is a god, not a man." He did not reject this. He did not render God's dignity to God. For this he was struck through an Angel with such a deadly disease that his body began to decay while he was still alive. In the burning climate of that land, a multitude of worms bred in him. Consumed by disease and worms, he died soon afterward. Thus passes the glory of this world!