Acts 12:22

22 The mob cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not a man!"

Acts 12:22 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:22

And the people gave a shout
At the end of the oration; these were flatterers, as Josephus says in the place before referred to, who cried out one from another, saluting him as God; saying, be merciful to us, hitherto we have revered thee as a man, henceforward we confess thee somewhat more excellent than mortal nature: and so it follows here,

saying it is the voice of a God, and not of a man;
the Vulgate Latin version reads, "the voices of God and not men"; and the Ethiopic version, "the city shouted in, or with the voice of God", with the voice of man; as if this referred to the acclamation of the people, and not the speech of the king; very wrongly.

Acts 12:22 In-Context

20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tzor and Tzidon, so they joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, the king's chief personal servant, they asked for peace; because they depended on the king's lands for their food supply.

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

22 The mob cried out, "This is the voice of a god, not a man!"

23 At once, because Herod did not give the glory to God, an angel of ADONAI struck him down. He was eaten away by worms and died.

24 But the word of the Lord went on growing and being multiplied.