6.1.16
The bible is a book of many wonders and miracles. It is also a book which details at time some pretty spectacular events and almost unbelievable stories. Acts chapter 12 contains one of those stories. In verses 20-23 the author of Acts records the death of King Herod Agrippa:
Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. After securing the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply.
On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.
C'mon, really? A lot of kings over time has either declared themselves God or accepted the role. Did this really happen like the biblical author records? Well, yes. Yes it did. Not just because we have a belief that the Bible is the inerrant Word of God, but because we have historical records of this event.
In his historical writings, Josephus writes in the Antiquities of the Jews, book 19, chapter 8, paragraph 2 about the death of King Herod. His recorded history is as follows:
"Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea he came to the city Caesarea, which was formerly called Strato's Tower; and there he exhibited spectacles in honor of Caesar, for whose well-being he'd been informed that a certain festival was being celebrated. At this festival a great number were gathered together of the principal persons of dignity of his province. On the second day of the spectacles he put on a garment made wholly of silver, of a truly wonderful texture, and came into the theater early in the morning. There the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun's rays, shone out in a wonderful manner, and was so resplendent as to spread awe over those that looked intently upon him. Presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, (though not for his good) that he was a god; and they added, "Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature." Upon this the king neither rebuked them nor rejected their impious flattery. But he shortly afterward looked up and saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings, just as it had once been the messenger of good tidings to him; and fell into the deepest sorrow. A severe pain arose in his belly, striking with a most violent intensity... his pain became violent. Accordingly he was carried into the palace, and the rumor went abroad everywhere that he would certainly die soon."
Well, isn't the bible only recording history then? Yes, but more. History tells us that Herod died and even is in agreement that it was a result of the prideful acceptance of his perceived status as God. But the bible tells us who took his life. This story in Acts, confirmed by historians, is one of many examples of how the bible is verified to be true. True here in this chapter, and every chapter!
