Acts 12:21

21. And upon a set day Herod ... made an oration unto them--to the Tyrians and Sidonians especially.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Verse 21. And upon a set day. An appointed, public day. This was the second day of the sports and games which Herod celebrated in Caesarea in honour of Claudius Caesar. Josephus has given an account of this occurrence, which coincides remarkably with the narrative here. The account is contained in his Antiquities of the Jews, b. xix. chap. viii.  2, and 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 shows in honour of Caesar, upon
his being informed that there was a certain festival celebrated
to make vows for his safety. At which festival a great multitude
was gotten together of the principal persons, and such as were
of dignity throughout his province. On the second day of which
shows, he put on a garment made wholly of silver,"

etc.

Arrayed in royal apparel. In the apparel of a king. Josephus thus describes the dress which Herod wore on that occasion:

"He put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of wonderful
contexture, and early in the morning came into the theatre,
place of the shows and games at which time the silver of his
garment, being illuminated by the first reflection of the
sun's rays upon it, shone after a surprising manner, and was
so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked
intently on him."

Sat upon his throne. This does not denote a throne in the usual sense of that word, but a high seat in the theatre, where he sat, and from whence he could have a full view of the games and sports. From this place he made his speech.

Made an oration. Addressed the people. What was the subject of this speech is not intimated by Luke or Josephus.

(+) "set day" "An appointed"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Verse 21 Upon a set day, etc. - A day on which games, etc., were exhibited in honor of the Roman emperor. What this refers to, we learn from Josephus. "Herod, having reigned three years over All Judea, (he had reigned over the tetrarchy of his brother Philip four years before this), went down to Caesarea, and there exhibited shows and games in honor of Claudius, and made vows for his health. On the second day of these shows, he put on a garment made wholly of silver, and of a contexture most truly wonderful, and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment, being illuminated by the first reflection of the sun's rays, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those who looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out, one from one place, and another from another, 'He is 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.' Nor did the king rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But, looking up, he saw an owl on a certain rope over his head, and immediately conceived that this bird was to him a messenger of ill tidings; and he fell into the deepest sorrow; a severe pain also arose in his bowels, and he died after five days' severe illness." This is the sum of the account given by Josephus, Ant. lib. xix. cap. 8, sect. 2. (See Whiston's edition.) Notwithstanding the embellishments of the Jewish historian, it agrees in the main surprisingly with the account given here by St. Luke. Josephus, it is true, suppresses some circumstances which would have been dishonorable to this impious king; and, according to his manner, puts a speech in Herod's mouth, when he found himself struck with death, expressive of much humility and contrition. But this speech is of no authority. When Josephus takes up and pursues the thread of mere historical narration, he may be safely trusted; but whenever he begins to embellish, or put speeches in the mouths of his actors, he is no longer to be credited. He even here transforms an angel of the Lord into an owl, and introduces it most improbably into his narration; as if an owl, a bird of all others that can least bear the light, should come and perch on the pavilion of the king, when the sun was shining with the most resplendent rays!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain