Acts 12:21

And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

And ^{G1161} upon a set ^{G5002} day ^{G2250} Herod ^{G2264}, arrayed ^{G1746} in royal ^{G937} apparel ^{G2066}, sat ^{G2523} upon ^{G1909} his throne ^{G968}, and ^{G2532} made an oration ^{G1215} unto ^{G4314} them ^{G846}.

A day was set, and Herod in his royal robes sat on the throne and made a speech to them.

On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.

And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.

Commentary on Acts 12:21 KJV

Acts 12:21 provides a vivid snapshot of King Herod Agrippa I in the zenith of his earthly power and pride, setting the stage for his dramatic downfall. This verse describes a grand public display designed to impress his subjects and solidify his authority.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of Herod's persecution of the early church, including the execution of James and the miraculous deliverance of Peter from prison (see Acts 12:1-19). The events described here likely took place in Caesarea. "Upon a set day" refers to a pre-arranged public event, possibly games or a festival held in honor of Emperor Claudius, as historical sources suggest. The audience included delegates from Tyre and Sidon, with whom Herod had recently been displeased (Acts 12:20).

Key Themes

Human Vanity and Pride: Herod's elaborate "royal apparel" and sitting "upon his throne" highlight a display of extreme pomp and self-exaltation. This scene is a stark illustration of human leaders seeking to magnify themselves.
Earthly Power vs. Divine Sovereignty: While Herod projects immense worldly power, the narrative subtly contrasts this with God's ultimate control, as seen in Peter's earlier liberation. The events that immediately follow this verse underscore the fragility of human authority when it stands in opposition to God.
The Stage for Judgment: This grand public address serves as the prelude to Herod's sudden and severe divine judgment, demonstrating that God will not share His glory with another (compare with Isaiah 42:8).

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "royal apparel" (Greek: esthēta basilikēn) emphasizes the kingly, splendid nature of his attire. Historical accounts, such as those by Josephus, describe Herod wearing a garment made entirely of silver, which would have glittered dazzlingly in the sun. The term "oration" (Greek: demosia rheseis) simply means a public speech or address, delivered from a position of authority.

Practical Application

Acts 12:21 serves as a timeless reminder about the dangers of pride and the fleeting nature of earthly glory. It cautions against seeking validation or adoration from others, especially when it borders on receiving honor due only to God. It encourages believers to humble themselves before God, understanding that true power and authority belong to Him alone. The verse also implicitly points to the fact that God observes all human actions, and He resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

No cross-references found for this verse.