The Death of Herod
TRANSLATION
(20) Now King Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the friendship of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they sued for peace because their country depended on the king’s country for food. (21) On an appointed day, Herod, arrayed in royal robes, took his seat on his throne and delivered an address to them. (22) The people were shouting in response, “The voice of a god, and not a man!” (23) Immediately, an angel of the Lord struck him down because he did not give God the glory. Then he was consumed by worms and died.
(24) The word of God, however, continued to spread and flourish. (25) Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem after they had finished their mission, bringing with them John whose other name was Mark. (1) Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers. These included Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen, who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. (2) While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” (3) After having fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
OBSERVATIONS
In this passage two related events were juxtaposed. The first was the horrific death of King Herod who had just killed James and imprisoned Peter. Coming to Caesarea to address the multitude gathered there, he was struck down by an angel of the Lord for accepting the accolades of the crowd that had sought his favor by flattering him as a god.
In contrast, we find Barnabas and Saul in Antioch, worshiping with the leaders of the church. While they were praying, the Holy Spirit directed them to appoint Barnabas and Saul for missionary service. In the first we see the judgment of God that will surely fall on the godless rulers of this world in due time. In the other we see the mercy of God extended to all who hear and respond to the good news of the Gospel. Repetitions in this segment included proper names (“Herod” in vss. 20 & 21, “Barnabas” and “Saul” in vss. 25, 1, & 2, and “God” in vss. 22, 23, & 24), and “fasting” (vss. 2 & 3).
OUTLINE
I. King Herod was struck down by an angel of the Lord for his blasphemous pride. (12:20-23)
II. Barnabas and Saul were set apart as missionaries by the Spirit-led leaders in Antioch. (12:24-13:3)
IDEA STATEMENT
After dealing with Herod’s blasphemy, God through the Holy Spirit directed the church leaders in Antioch to set apart Barnabas and Saul for a ministry of outreach to the Gentiles.
APPLICATION
In this passage, the contrast between Satan’s machinations and God’s mercy could hardly have been more forcefully set forth. On the one hand we see an evil ruler lauded by those under his charge, trying to curry his favor with such flattering and obsequiousness that God had to strike him down with a horrible death. On the other hand, we see the leadership of a seemingly insignificant group of believers led by the Holy Spirit to make a decision that would change the course of human history. The choice of Barnabas and Saul to launch the first missionary journey set an example for world missions for centuries to come.
Jesus had given his marching orders for the church before he ascended into heaven as set forth in the Great Commission, a command that appears in all four Gospels as well as the Book of Acts. According to this mandate, believers of every generation are to serve as “my witnesses” in ever-expanding circles of influence (Jerusalem, then Judea, then Samaria, then the ends of the earth) until the entire world has heard the Good News. At first, those in the early church tended to remain close to home and only ventured forth as witnesses when forced to do so by persecution or a specific revelation from God. The church in Antioch was the first group of believers to establish the pattern of deliberately sending out teams of missionaries, in this case Barnabas and Saul, to spread the Gospel to foreign cultures. This would become the template for world missions throughout the remainder of the Book of Acts and over the twenty centuries of church history ever since. Today, missions-minded churches are still doing what the church in Antioch did so long ago, namely, identifying and then setting apart and supporting those who are willing to go and share the Gospel in far-off regions of the world.