LESSON
55
THE HUNT
FOR PETER & HEROD’S DEATH
Acts 12:18-25 New Living Translation (NLT)
18 At dawn there was a great commotion
among the soldiers about what had happened to Peter. 19 Herod Agrippa ordered a thorough search for him. When he couldn’t
be found, Herod interrogated the guards and sentenced them to death. Afterward
Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while. 20 Now Herod was
very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a
delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon
Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s
personal assistant, 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. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not
of a man!” 23 Instantly,
an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the
people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with
worms and died. 24 Meanwhile,
the word of God continued
to spread, and there were many new believers. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had
finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned,[a] taking John Mark with them.
