Acts 12 · Verse 22

Acts 12:22

And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
Acts 12:22, King James Version

Acts 12:22 in other translations

BSBAnd they began to shout, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!”
WEBThe people shouted, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
ASVAnd the people shouted, saying, The voice of a god, and not of a man.
YLTand the populace were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man;'
DARBYAnd the people cried out, Agod's voice and not a man's.
BBEAnd the people, with loud cries, said, It is the voice of a god, not of a man.
WebsterAnd the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

What does Acts 12:22 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Acts 12:22-23
22-23. the people gave a shout, &c.--Josephus' account of his death is remarkably similar to this [Antiquities, 19.8.2]. Several cases of such deaths occur in history. Thus was this wretched man nearer his end than he of whom he had thought to make a public spectacle.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 22. And the people gave a shout. A loud applause.

It is the voice of a god, etc. It is not probable that the Jews joined in this acclamation, but that it was made by the idolatrous Gentiles. Josephus gives a similar account of their feelings and conduct. He says,
"And 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 unto us, for
although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a king, yet
shall we henceforth own thee as a superior to mortal nature.'"
It is true that Josephus says that this was done when they saw his splendid apparel, and that he gives no account of his addressing the people; while Luke describes it as the effect of his speech. But the discrepancy is of no consequence. Luke is as credible an historian as Josephus; and his account is more consistent than that of the Jewish historian. It is far more probable that this applause and adoration would be excited by speech, than simply by beholding his apparel.

(b) "voice of a god" Jude 1:16

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Acts 12:20-25

Many heathen princes claimed and received Divine honours, but it was far more horrible impiety in Herod, who knew the word and worship of the living God, to accept such idolatrous honours without rebuking the blasphemy. And such men as Herod, when puffed with pride and vanity, are ripening fast for signal vengeance. God is very jealous for his own honour, and will be glorified upon those whom he is not glorified by…

Read the full comment on Acts 12:20-25 →

Acts 12:22 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὁho<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
δῆμοςdēmosthe peopleG1218
ἐπεφώνει·epephōneiwere crying out;G2019
θεοῦtheouOf a godG2316
φωνὴphōnē[this is the] voiceG5456
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀνθρώπου.anthrōpouof a man!G444

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Acts 12:22

  • Acts 14:10-13

    Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

  • Jude 1:16

    These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men’s persons in admiration because of advantage.

  • Revelation 13:4

    And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

  • Psalms 12:2

    They speak vanity every one with his neighbour: with flattering lips and with a double heart do they speak.

  • Daniel 6:7

    All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
14:10-13; Ps 12:2; Da 6:7; Jude 1:16; Re 13:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Acts 12:21

    And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.

  • Acts 12:22

    And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.

  • Acts 12:23

    And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost.

Read all of Acts 12

Acts 12:22 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y el pueblo aclamaba: Voz de Dios, y no de hombre.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le peuple s’écriait: Voix d’un dieu et non pas d’un homme!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Das Volk aber rief ihm zu: Eines Gottes Stimme und nicht eines Menschen!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Populus autem acclamabat: Dei voces, et non hominis.