And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and died.
All Commentaries on Acts 12:23 Go To Acts 12
George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
Struck him. Josephus relates, that when Herod saw he must die, he replied to the flatteries of the people, "See, he whom you call a god, is snatched out of life, in spite of himself. The necessity of suffering death proves the falsity of your words; but we must submit to the will of God. "(Jewish Antiquities, lib. xvii. chap. 9. and The Jewish War, lib. i. chap. 21.)
Princes may take warning from this example, not to take delight in the praises and flatteries of their subjects, so as to forget themselves to be men, and the God of heaven to be the supreme Lord of all, to whose just tribunal princes and subjects are equally amenable. (Haydock)
Eaten up by worms. A visible judgment of God, for his pride and vanity. (Witham)
