Acts 12:20-13:12

Challenging God

If you really believe in God what could be more foolhardy than to set yourself up against Him? If you don’t believe in God then according to the Scriptures you are a fool. (Psalm 14:1 & 53:1)

Herod does one of the most risky things a person can do. He accepts the praise that only belongs to God. Later we will see how Paul and Barnabas handled a similar situation, but suffice it to say they handled it much differently. One of my favorite plays by William Shakespeare is Henry V. There are several great lines in this play but one that particularly touches on this point is found in Act Iv Scene VIII. The English have just defeated the French in spite of overwhelming odds at Agincourt. When Henry finally is ready to move off the field he speaks:

“Come, go we in procession to the village.
And be it death proclaimed through our host
To boast of this or take the praise from God
Which is his only.”

Henry (or Shakespeare at least) must have been familiar with the story of Herod in Acts 12, for he knew the penalty for taking the praise from God which is His only.

Paul and Barnabas start their missionary journey in Cyprus. This makes sense when we recall from chapter 4 that Cyprus was Barnabas’ home country. Here we find a man named Elymas setting himself firmly against the message of the gospel. Perhaps this was not quite so grievous an offense as taking God’s praise but it was foolish nonetheless. For his position he was struck blind. Apparently this was only for a season. It was God’s grace and mercy. The physical blindness was only a reflection of the far more dangerous spiritual blindness in this man’s heart.