Death Omen for Herod Agrippa I


In Acts 12:23-24, God deals with Herod Agrippa I who was responsible for the death of Apostle James and the imprisonment of Apostle Peter. All of this was done to placate the Jews. I suggest you go back and listen to the entire study of Acts 12 on Spotify (Five Minutes in the Word)!

I found it interesting that two historians have completely different versions of death of Agrippa. Josephus says that Agrippa saw an owl sitting over his head, which he recognized as a messenger of evil to him. Eusebius, quoting Josephus Eccl. Hist.,' 2. 10.), leaves out the owl, and says that Agrippa saw an angel sitting over his head, whom he recognized as the cause of his sufferings. (Pulpit Commentary)

Jews believed that owls are bringing messages of bad news. They also believe that an angel is assigned to each person Again, this is interesting because Agrippa was a Jew! Herod knew the word and worship of the living God. But he accepted idolatrous honors without rebuking the blasphemy. 

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