Peter, had told them how he would very shortly gratify them with the sight of Peter's head in a charger, which would oblige them as much as John Baptist's did Herodias; it made him ashamed to be robbed of this boasting, and to see himself, notwithstanding his confidence, disabled to make his words good. This is such a mortification to his proud spirit, that he cannot bear to stay in Judea, but away he goes to Cesarea. Josephus mentions this coming of Herod to Cesarea, at the end of the third year of his reign over all Judea; (Antiquit. 19. 7.) and says, he came thither to solemnize the plays that were kept there, by a vast concourse of the nobility and gentry of the kingdom, for the health of Caesar, and in honour of him.
20. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king's country. 21. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24. But the word of God grew and multiplied. 25. And Barnabas and Saul returned from Jerusalem, when they had fulfilled their ministry, and took with them John, whose surname was Mark.
In these verses, we have,
I. The death of Herod. God reckoned with him, not only for his putting James to death, but for his design and endeavour to put Peter to death; for sinners will be called to an account, not only for the wickedness of their deeds, but for the wickedness of their endeavours; (Ps. 28. 4.) for the mischief they have done, and the mischef they would have done. It was but a little while that Herod lived after this. Some sinners God makes quick work with. Observe,
1. How the measure of his iniquity was filled up; it was pride that did it; that is it that commonly goes more immediately before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Nebuchadnezzer had been a very bloody man, and a great persecutor; but the word that was in the king's mouth when the judgments of God fell upon him, was a proud word; Is not this great Babylon that I have built? Dan. 4. 30, 31. It is the glory of God to look on every one that is proud, and bring him low, Job 40. 11. The instance of it here is very remarkable, and shews how God resists the proud.
(1.) The men of Tyre and Sidon had, it seems, offended Herod; those cities were now under the Roman yoke, and some misdemeanors they had been guilty of, which Herod highly resented, and was resolved they should feel his resentment. Some very small matter would serve such a proud imperious man as Herod was for a provocation, where he was minded to pick a quarrel. He was highly displeased with this people, and they must be made to know that his wrath was as the roaring of a lion, as messengers of death.
(2.) The offenders truckled, being convinced, if not that they had done amiss, yet that it was in vain to contend with such a potent adversary, who, right or wrong, would be too hard for them; they submitted, and were willing upon any terms to make peace with him. Observe, [1.] The reason why they were desirous to have the matter accommodated; because their country was nourished by the king's country. Tyre and Sidon were trading cities, and had little land belonging to them, but were always supplied with corn from the land of Canaan; Judah and Israel traded in their market, wheat, and honey, and oil, Ezek. 27. 17. Now if Herod should make a law to prohibit the exportation of corn to Tyre and Sidon, (which they knew not but a man so revengeful as he might soon do, not caring how many were famished by it,) their country would be undone; so that it was their interest to keep in with him. And is it not then our wisdom to make our peace with God, and humble ourselves before him, who have a much more constant and necessary dependence upon him, than one country can have upon another? for in him we live, and move, and have our being. [2.] The method they took to prevent a rupture; They made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend; it is very likely, with bribes and good presents; that is usually the way for men to make courtiers their friends. And it is the hard fate of princes, that they must have not only their affairs, but their affections too, governed by such mercenary tools: yet such men as Herod, that will not be governed by reason, had better be so governed than by pride and passion. Blastus had Herod's ear, and has the art of mollifying his resentments; and a time is fixed for the ambassadors of Tyre and Sidon to come and make a public submission, to beg his majesty's pardon, throw themselves upon his clemency, and promise never again to offend in the like kind; and that which will thus feed his pride, shall serve to cool his passion.
(3.) Herod appeared in all the pomp and grandeur he had; he was arrayed in his royal apparel, (v. 21.) and sat upon his throne. Josephus gives an account of this splendid appearance which Herod made upon this occasion. Antiquit. lib. 19. cap. 7. He says, that Herod at this time wore a robe of cloth of silver, so richly woven, and framed with such art, that when the sun shone, it reflected the light with such a lustre as dazzled the eyes of the spectators, and struck an awe upon them. Foolish people value men by their outward appearance; and no better are they who value themselves by the esteem of such; who court it, and recommend themselves to it, as Herod did, who thought to make up the want of a royal heart, with his royal apparel; and sat upon his throne, as if that gave him a privilege to trample upon all about him as his footstool.
(4.) He made a speech to the men of Tyre and Sidon, a fine oration, in which, probably, after he had aggravated their fault, and commended their submission, he concluded with an assurance that he would pass by their offence, and receive them into his favour again; proud enough that he had it in his power, whom he would to keep alive, as well as whom he would to slay; and, probably, he kept them in suspense as to what their doom should be, till he made this oration to them, that the act of grace might come to them with the more pleasing surprise.
(5.) The people applauded him, the people that had a dependence upon him, and had benefit by his favour, they gave a shout; and this was it they shouted, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man, v. 22. God is great and good, and they thought such was Herod's greatness in his apparel and throne, and such his goodness in forgiving them, that he was worthy to be called no less than a god; and perhaps his speech was delivered with such an air of majesty, and a mixture of clemency with it, as affected the auditors thus. Or, it may be, it was
