Acts 12:21

21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.

Acts 12:21 in Other Translations

King James Version (KJV)
21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.
English Standard Version (ESV)
21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them.
New Living Translation (NLT)
21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them.
The Message Bible (MSG)
21 On the day set for their meeting, Herod, robed in pomposity, took his place on the throne and regaled them with a lot of hot air.
American Standard Version (ASV)
21 And upon a set day Herod arrayed himself in royal apparel, and sat on the throne, and made an oration unto them.
GOD'S WORD Translation (GW)
21 The appointed day came. Herod, wearing his royal clothes, sat on his throne and began making a speech to them.
Holman Christian Standard Bible (CSB)
21 So on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them.
New International Reader's Version (NIRV)
21 The appointed day came. Herod was seated on his throne. He was wearing his royal robes. He made a speech to the people.

Acts 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 12:21

And upon a set day
Either on some feast day of divine appointment, as a feast day was by the Jews called (dewm) , "a stated day"; or on some day appointed by Herod, for the receiving of the ambassadors of Tyre and Sidon, and of hearing their petitions; or as Josephus F18 says, it was on the second day of the sports and plays, instituted by him in honour of Caesar:

Herod, arrayed in royal apparel;
the same Jewish historian in the same place says, that this his apparel was all of silver, and of a wonderful contexture; and that going in this very early in the morning into the theatre, the silver shone so with the rays of the rising sun, that it struck the spectators with terror and admiration:

sat upon his throne;
and very likely with the other ensigns of royalty, as a crown on his head, and a sceptre in his hand:

and made an oration unto them;
either unto the ambassadors from Tyre and Sidon, or rather unto the common people, the multitude that were gathered together in the theatre, where the above historian says he was.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 19, c. 8. sect 2.

Acts 12:21 In-Context

19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there.
20 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.
21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people.
22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.”
23 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.
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