Acts 12:22

22 The populace began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of 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 He had been very angry with the Tyrians and Sidonians. Together they presented themselves before him, and having won over Blastus, who was in charge of the king's bedroom, they asked for peace, because their country was supplied with food from the king's country.

21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them.

22 The populace began to shout, "It's the voice of a god and not of a man!"

23 At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.

24 Then God's message flourished and multiplied.