This verb describes the act of delivering a formal public address. In the New Testament it appears only once, capturing a decisive moment in the life—and death—of Herod Agrippa I. Through that single use, Scripture contrasts self-glorifying rhetoric with faithful proclamation that honors the living God.

Biblical Narrative (Acts 12:20-24)

• Acts 12:21 records that on an “appointed day” Herod “donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.”
• The crowd responded, “This is the voice of a god, not a man!” (Acts 12:22).
• “Immediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12:23).
• Luke concludes, “But the word of God continued to spread and multiply” (Acts 12:24).

By placing Herod’s grandiose oration beside the unstoppable advance of the gospel, Luke reveals the fleeting nature of human acclaim and the abiding power of God’s Word.

Historical Setting

Herod Agrippa I (reigned A.D. 37-44) sought Rome’s favor and popular support from his subjects in Judea, Tyre, and Sidon. Josephus (Antiquities 19.343-352) supplies additional detail, noting that Agrippa appeared in garments woven entirely of silver that reflected the sun’s rays, producing a dazzling spectacle. Such political pageantry was common in Greco-Roman cities, where eloquence was celebrated, and rulers cultivated a divine aura to legitimize authority. Luke’s account agrees with Josephus on the outcome—sudden death—yet frames it theologically: Herod’s failure to “give glory to God” invited immediate judgment.

Spiritual Lessons

1. The danger of pride in public ministry: eloquence that exalts the speaker rather than the Lord invites divine opposition (Proverbs 16:18; James 4:6).
2. The importance of giving God the glory: contrast Herod’s silence with Peter’s swift rejection of worship in Acts 10:25-26 and Paul’s response in Acts 14:11-15.
3. The invincibility of God’s mission: Herod’s death follows a fierce persecution of the church (Acts 12:1-5), yet “the word of God continued to spread” (Acts 12:24). Human oratory can never thwart God’s redemptive plan.

Connections to Biblical Oratory

• Stephen’s defense before the Sanhedrin (Acts 7) and Paul’s addresses in Pisidian Antioch (Acts 13), Athens (Acts 17), and before Agrippa II (Acts 26) exemplify Spirit-empowered speech that points hearers to Christ.
• Moses, who felt “slow of speech” (Exodus 4:10), and Paul, whose “bodily presence is weak” (2 Corinthians 10:10), show that divine power, not human polish, authenticates a message.
• Jesus Himself taught with authority unlike the scribes (Matthew 7:28-29), locating true persuasive force in truth and divine commission.

Application for Preaching and Teaching

• Evaluate motives: seek the audience’s transformation, not their applause.
• Clothe proclamation in humility, acknowledging dependence on the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).
• Redirect any praise received back to God, modeling John the Baptist’s confession, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30).

Conclusion

The lone biblical use of this term stands as a sober reminder that the effectiveness of speech is measured not by rhetorical flourish but by faithfulness to God and His glory. Herod’s dramatic demise underscores the transience of human acclaim, while the ongoing spread of the gospel testifies to the eternal power of God’s proclaimed Word.