God's Judgment on Pride — Acts 12:13-25 Daily Word

Peter miraculously escapes prison and arrives at Mary’s house while Herod faces judgment for rejecting God’s glory. A powerful contrast of deliverance and divine consequences unfolds in Acts 12.

God’s Judgment on Pride

[Scripture]

[13] And when he knocked at the door of the gateway, a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer. [14] Recognizing Peter’s voice, in her joy she did not open the gate but ran in and reported that Peter was standing at the gate. [15] They said to her, “You are out of your mind.” But she kept insisting that it was so, and they kept saying, “It is his angel!” [16] But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed. [17] But motioning to them with his hand to be silent, he described to them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, “Tell these things to James and to the brothers.” Then he departed and went to another place. [18] Now when day came, there was no little disturbance among the soldiers over what had become of Peter. [19] And after Herod searched for him and did not find him, he examined the sentries and ordered that they should be put to death. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent time there. [20] Now Herod was angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they came to him with one accord, and having persuaded Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food. [21] On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. (Acts 12:13-21a, ESV)

[21] On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. [22] And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” [23] Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. (Acts 12:21b-23, ESV)

[22] And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!” [23] Immediately an angel of the Lord struck him down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last. [24] But the word of God increased and multiplied. [25] And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem when they had completed their service, bringing with them John, whose other name was Mark. (Acts 12:22-25, ESV)

[Daily Word]

# Peter arrived at Mary’s house and knocked on the outer gate.

A servant girl named Rhoda heard the knock and came to the gate. The word used here can refer to a female servant or maidservant. As a doorkeeper whose role was to screen visitors before letting them in, Rhoda would have been quite skilled at identifying who was at the door. We can see just how sharp a doorkeeper’s eye — and ear — could be when we recall that when Jesus was being questioned at the house of the high priest Annas, Peter was stopped at the entrance by a servant girl who recognized him. (John 18:16–17)

Peter was standing outside the outer gate, which suggests that Mary’s house was a wealthy residence with a courtyard. (10:17) Rhoda recognized Peter’s voice alone and, without opening the gate, ran back inside to announce that Peter was at the door. But when she reported this, the people rebuked her, saying, “You are out of your mind!” They insisted that what she must have seen was “Peter’s angel.” This suggests they likely believed Peter was already dead.

Yet when they went to the gate and saw Peter standing there for themselves, they were utterly astonished. Peter explained to them the vision and the miracle that had happened to him. He then instructed them to report this news to James and to the brothers. The James mentioned here is not the James who had already been martyred, but rather James the brother of Jesus.

James was at this time serving as the leader of the Jerusalem church. And “the brothers” mentioned alongside him (v. 17) does not refer to James’s biological brothers, but to the spiritual community of those who believed in Jesus. Peter then left at once and went to “another place.” (v. 17) It is generally believed that this “another place” Peter went to was Rome, where he fled to escape King Herod.¹

# The soldiers were in an uproar throughout the night over how Peter had vanished without a trace.

King Herod then ordered the guards who had been watching the prison to be interrogated and executed, since guarding the prison was their responsibility. This is also why the jailer in Philippi had tried to take his own life when he discovered that the doors of the prison where Paul and Silas were held had been opened. (16:27)

*King Herod was a violent and brutal man. He had James, the brother of John, put to death, and he sought to kill Peter as well — but when Peter disappeared from the prison, Herod had sixteen soldiers executed. On top of this, Herod was furious with the people of Tyre and Sidon, because they depended on grain from his territory for their food supply. He had therefore cut off that supply. In order to resolve the crisis, the people of Tyre and Sidon sought to make peace with Herod through a royal official named Blastus. (20)

Because Blastus was the king’s chamberlain — the official in charge of the king’s personal quarters — he had ready access to the king, and he ultimately succeeded in persuading him. The people of Tyre and Sidon then held a festive celebration to mark the restoration of peace with King Herod. (21) On that day, Herod put on his royal robes and delivered a speech from the throne. When the crowd heard his voice, they cried out that it was the voice of a god and not of a man, and they lavished praise upon him.

*Yet the king was not humble. The faith he had claimed as a devout observer of Judaism was revealed to be a sham. Rather than giving to God the glory that belonged to God alone, he accepted it as though it were rightfully his own. We must never forget that the one true God of this world is the LORD God.

# Therefore, God struck him down immediately in judgment.

The judgment Herod received was death by being eaten by worms. (23) It appears he was struck by some kind of worm or parasite, and according to Josephus, he died within five days. Those who live their lives as though God does not exist will one day stand before Him as creatures worth less than even a worm.

Through this event, the Word of God continued to spread and grow. (24) The one who sought to kill was himself killed, while the man of God who had faced the threat of death was spared. The power that appeared strong through its own might was broken, and the power that appeared weak and helpless prevailed. Nothing and no one can stop the gospel. Therefore, we hope that we will take part in God’s work. May we remember that God will surely use those who are centered on Him, and may we be people who walk in victorious faith today as well.

Peter’s miraculous escape, the answer to prayer, the fall of Herod, the glory of God, the community of faith

Originally published in Korean at bible2u.com