Acts 12:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The crowd answers Herod's oration with a shout of worship: the voice of a god, and not of a man.
What Does Acts 12:22 Mean?
The audience — suitors for the king's favor and his grain — gives the speech the response ancient courts had long given rulers: acclamation as a god. Whether from policy or real awe, the flattery rises, and Herod, robed and enthroned, lets it stand.
It is the oldest temptation dressed in court clothes: 'ye shall be as gods' (Genesis 3:5). The scene answers an earlier one in this same city of Caesarea, when Cornelius fell at Peter's feet and the apostle pulled him up: 'Stand up; I myself also am a man' (Acts 10:26). The fisherman refused worship; the king drinks it in. What a man does in that moment tells whose glory he lives for.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 12:22
What does Acts 12:22 mean?
The crowd answers Herod's oration with a shout of worship: the voice of a god, and not of a man.