In brief
Herod Agrippa I is the king simply called King Herod in Acts 12. He persecutes the church in Jerusalem: he puts the apostle James, the brother of John, to death by the sword, then has Peter arrested because it pleases the Jews. But the church prays, and an angel delivers Peter. Later, at Caesarea, Herod lets himself be acclaimed as a god. An angel of the Lord strikes him down at once, because he did not give glory to God.
What does the name Herod Agrippa I mean?
The book of Acts calls him simply Herod. He is referred to as Herod Agrippa I to distinguish him from other members of this family, notably King Agrippa before whom Paul would speak (Acts 25 and 26). The name Herod is generally linked to the Greek word for hero.
The story of Herod Agrippa I
The persecution of the church
Acts 12:1-3About that time King Herod begins to mistreat some members of the church. He puts the apostle James, the brother of John, to death by the sword. Seeing that this pleases the Jews, he goes on to arrest Peter as well. This is during the days of Unleavened Bread, and Herod is clearly seeking the favor of the people.
Peter in prison
Acts 12:4-6Herod throws Peter into prison under the guard of four squads of four soldiers each, intending to bring him out to the people after the Passover. Meanwhile the church prays earnestly to God for him. On the night before the hearing, Peter sleeps between two soldiers, bound with two chains.
Delivered from Herod's hand
Acts 12:7-17An angel of the Lord appears and wakes Peter; the chains fall from his hands and the iron gate opens by itself. Coming to himself, Peter realizes that the Lord has rescued him from Herod's hand. He goes to the house of Mary, the mother of John called Mark, where many are praying, and then leaves for another place.
Herod's anger
Acts 12:18-19In the morning the soldiers are in great turmoil. Herod has Peter searched for without finding him, examines the guards, and orders them to be put to death. Then he goes down from Judea to Caesarea to stay there. The king who wanted to kill the apostle could do nothing against the deliverance that came from God.
Struck down for not giving glory to God
Acts 12:20-23The people of Tyre and Sidon, whose country depends on the king's country for food, come asking for peace. On the appointed day Herod, dressed in his royal robes, addresses them from his throne. The people shout that it is the voice of a god, not of a man. At that moment an angel of the Lord strikes him, and he dies, eaten by worms.
The word goes on
Acts 12:24-25The account ends with a striking contrast: the word of God continued to spread and the number of disciples multiplied. The persecutor dies, but the gospel advances. Barnabas and Saul return from Jerusalem with John, called Mark, and the mission goes on.
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What Herod Agrippa I teaches us
- No human power can stop the word of God.
- The persevering prayer of the church has a real place in God's action.
- Seeking the favor of men leads to injustice, like Herod who struck the church to please people.
- All glory belongs to God: taking for oneself the honor due to him is a grave danger.
Key verses
Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. Faced with Herod's power, the church prays, and God answers.
Herod is struck down because he did not give glory to God. This verse reminds us that pride, which accepts being treated as a god, puts itself under the judgment of the one true God.
The persecutor disappears, but the word of God spreads more and more. The history of the church shows that opposition cannot prevent the growth of the gospel.
Bible verses to meditate on
Frequently asked questions
Who was King Herod in Acts 12?
King Herod in Acts 12 is generally identified as Herod Agrippa I. He put the apostle James to death, imprisoned Peter, and died at Caesarea, struck by an angel. The Jewish historian Josephus, who presents him as a grandson of Herod the Great, also reports his sudden death at Caesarea after an acclamation of this kind.
Why was Herod struck by an angel?
Acts 12:23 gives the reason plainly: he did not give glory to God. When the people acclaimed him by shouting that it was the voice of a god and not of a man, he accepted this honor instead of giving it to God. An angel of the Lord struck him at that moment, and he died, eaten by worms.
Where is the story of Herod Agrippa I found in the Bible?
His whole story is in Acts 12. Verses 1 to 19 tell of the death of James, then the arrest and deliverance of Peter; verses 20 to 23 tell of his death at Caesarea. He should not be confused with King Agrippa of Acts 25 and 26.