Acts 12:23 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Because Herod accepts divine honor instead of giving God the glory, an angel of the Lord strikes him, and he dies eaten of worms.
What Does Acts 12:23 Mean?
The sentence falls 'immediately.' The same heavenly stroke that woke Peter to freedom (verse 7) now fells the king on his throne. Luke names the charge with precision — not his murders only, but this: 'he gave not God the glory.' The man who accepted worship is consumed, and the death is as ugly as the pride.
Peter, guarded by sixteen soldiers, lives; Herod, robed in majesty, dies — that is the contrast the whole chapter has been building. Glory kept from God destroys the one who keeps it, for God 'resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble' — words Peter himself would later write (1 Peter 5:5). The throne and the cell have traded places, as before God they always finally do.
Acts 12:23 in the Original Language
skolekobrotos (σκωληκόβρωτος), 'eaten of worms' -- worm-eaten; a single vivid Greek word.
Frequently Asked Questions About Acts 12:23
What does Acts 12:23 mean?
Because Herod accepts divine honor instead of giving God the glory, an angel of the Lord strikes him, and he dies eaten of worms.