Act 12:20-23 | RWP | e4.org | Was highly displeased ( ην θυμομαχων ). Periphrastic imperfect active of θυμομαχεω , late compound of θυμος (passionate heat) and μαχομα , to fight. Only here in the N.T., to fight desperately, to have a hot quarrel. Whether it was open war with the Phoenicians or just violent hostility we do not know, save that Phoenicia belonged to Syria and Herod Agrippa had no authority there. The quarrel may have been over commercial matters. They came with one accord ( ομοθυμαδον παρησαν ). The representatives of Tyre and Sidon. See on for ομοθυμαδον . Tyre was a colony of Sidon and had become one of the chief commercial cities of the world by reason of the Phoenician ships. The king's chamberlain ( τον επ του κοιτωνος του βασιλεος ). The one over the bedchamber ( κοιτωνος , late word from κοιτη , bed, here only in the N.T.). Made their friend ( πεισαντες ). First aorist active participle of πειθω , to persuade. Having persuaded (probably with bribes as in ). They asked for peace ( ηιτουντο ειρηνην ). Imperfect middle of αιτεω , kept on asking for peace. Because their country was fed ( δια το τρεφεσθα αυτων την χοραν ). Causal sentence with δια and the articular infinitive (present passive of τρεφω , to nourish or feed) and the accusative of general reference, "because of the being fed as to their country." Tyre and Sidon as large commercial cities on the coast received large supplies of grain and fruits from Palestine. Herod had cut off the supplies and that brought the two cities to action.

‏ Acts 12:20-23

Was highly displeased ( ην θυμομαχων ). Periphrastic imperfect active of θυμομαχεω, late compound of θυμος (passionate heat) and μαχομα, to fight. Only here in the N.T., to fight desperately, to have a hot quarrel. Whether it was open war with the Phoenicians or just violent hostility we do not know, save that Phoenicia belonged to Syria and Herod Agrippa had no authority there. The quarrel may have been over commercial matters.

They came with one accord ( ομοθυμαδον παρησαν ). The representatives of Tyre and Sidon. See on 1:14 for ομοθυμαδον. Tyre was a colony of Sidon and had become one of the chief commercial cities of the world by reason of the Phoenician ships.

The king's chamberlain ( τον επ του κοιτωνος του βασιλεος ). The one over the bedchamber ( κοιτωνος, late word from κοιτη, bed, here only in the N.T.).

Made their friend ( πεισαντες ). First aorist active participle of πειθω, to persuade. Having persuaded (probably with bribes as in Mt 28:14).

They asked for peace ( ηιτουντο ειρηνην ). Imperfect middle of αιτεω, kept on asking for peace.

Because their country was fed ( δια το τρεφεσθα αυτων την χοραν ). Causal sentence with δια and the articular infinitive (present passive of τρεφω, to nourish or feed) and the accusative of general reference, "because of the being fed as to their country." Tyre and Sidon as large commercial cities on the coast received large supplies of grain and fruits from Palestine. Herod had cut off the supplies and that brought the two cities to action.

Upon a set day ( τακτη ημερα ). Locative case and the verbal adjective of τασσω, to arrange, appoint, old word, here only in the N.T. Josephus (Ant. XVII. 6, 8; XIX. 8, 2) gives a full account of the occasion and the death of Herod Agrippa. It was the second day of the festival in honour of the Emperor Claudius, possibly his birthday rather than the Quinquennalia. The two accounts of Luke and Josephus supplement each other with no contradiction. Josephus does not mention the name of Blastus.

Arrayed himself in royal apparel ( ενδυσαμενος εσθητα βασιλικην ). First aorist middle (indirect) participle of ενδυνω or ενδυω, common verb to put on. Literally, having put royal apparel on himself (a robe of silver tissue, Josephus says). The rays of the sun shone on this brilliant apparel and the vast crowd in the open amphitheatre became excited as Herod began to speak.

Made an oration ( εδημηγορε ). Imperfect active of δημηγορεω, old verb from δημηγορος (haranguer of the people), and that from δημος (people) and αγορευω, to harangue or address the people. Only here in the N.T. He kept it up.

Shouted ( επεφωνε ). Imperfect active, kept on shouting, calling out to him. Old verb, but only four times in the N.T. and all by Luke. The heathen crowd ( δημος ) repeated their flattering adulation to gain Herod's favour.

The voice of a god ( θεου φωνη ). In the pagan sense of emperor worship, not as the Supreme Being. But it was pleasing to Herod Agrippa's vanity.

Smote him ( επαταξεν αυτον ). Effective aorist active indicative of πατασσω, old verb, used already in verse 7 of gentle smiting of the angel of the Lord, here of a severe stroke of affliction. Like Nebuchadnezzar (Da 4:30) pride went before a fall. He was struck down in the very zenith of his glory.

Because ( ανθ' ων ). Αντ with the genitive of the relative pronoun, "in return for which things." He accepted the impious flattery (Hackett) instead of giving God the glory. He was a nominal Jew.

He was eaten of worms ( γενομενος σκωληκοβρωτος ). Ingressive aorist middle participle, "becoming worm-eaten." The compound verbal adjective ( σκωληξ, worm, βρωτος, eaten, from βιβρωσκω ) is a late word (II Macc. 9:9) of the death of Antiochus Epiphanes, used also of a tree (Theophrastus), here only in the N.T. The word σκωληξ was used of intestinal worms and Herodotus (IV. 205) describes Pheretima, Queen of Cyrene, as having swarms of worms which ate her flesh while still alive. Josephus (Ant. XIX. 8, 2) says that Herod Agrippa lingered for five days and says that the rotting of his flesh produced worms, an item in harmony with the narrative in Luke. Josephus gives further details, one a superstitious sight of an owl sitting on one of the ropes of the awning of the theatre while the people flattered him, an omen of his death to him. Luke puts it simply that God smote him.

Gave up the ghost ( εξεψυξεν ). Effective aorist active of εκψυχω, to breathe out, late verb, medical term in Hippocrates, in the N.T. only in Ac 5:5, 10; 12:23. Herod was carried out of the theatre a dying man and lingered only five days.