Acts 12:22
And the people made acclamation, saying: It is the voice of a god, and not of a man.
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The verse in its languages
- Vulgate (Clementine)
- Populus autem acclamabat : Dei voces, et non hominis.
- Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)
- ὁ δὲ δῆμος ἐπεφώνει· Θεοῦ φωνὴ καὶ οὐκ ἀνθρώπου.
The Fathers on this verse
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XXVII on Acts xii. 18, 19
Some persons, it is likely, are at a loss how to explain it, that God should quietly look on while (His) champions are put to death, and now again the soldiers on account of Peter: and yet it was possible for Him after (delivering) Peter to rescue them also. But it was not yet the time of judgment, so as to render to each according to his deserts. And besides, it was not Peter that put them into his hands. For the thing that most annoyed him was the being mocked; just as in the case of his grandfather when he was deceived by the wise men, that was what made him (feel) cut to the heart, the being (eluded and) made ridiculous. “And having put them to the question,” it says, “he ordered them to be led away to execution.” ( Matt. ii. …
St John Chrysostom A Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles, Homily XXVII on Acts xii. 18, 19
(Recapitulation.) “And when it was day,” etc. ( v. 18 .) For if the Angel had brought out the soldiers also, along with Peter, it would have been thought a case of flight. Then why, you may ask, was it not otherwise managed? Why, where is the harm? Now, if we see that they who have suffered unjustly, take no harm, we shall not raise these questions. For why do you not say the same of James? Why did not (God) rescue him? “There was no small stir among the soldiers.” So (clearly) had they perceived nothing (of what had happened). Lo, I take up the plea in their defence. The chains were there, and the keepers within, and the prison shut, nowhere a wall broken through, all told the same tale: the man had been carried off: why dost thou condemn them? Had they wished to let him off, they would have done it before, or would have gone out with him. “But he gave them money?” ( ch. iii. …
St John Chrysostom The Homilies of St. John Chrysostom on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Hebrews 11.20-22
Moreover while Herod on hearing the cry “It is the voice of a god and not of a man,” inasmuch as “he gave not God the glory, burst in sunder, and all his bowels gushed out” ( Acts xii. 22, 23; see i. 18 ), this man received to himself even the honor belonging to God, not words only.