12:21-23
Herod addressed the people, dressed in all his finery. The response of the people that Herod was a god probably does not represent what they actually thought, rather they were just flattering him because they needed his favour. Herod was struck by an angel. Why? Because he did not give glory to God. All rulers who are full of pride at some time come to a sticky end. Herod was “eaten by worms and died”. This implies that he died as a result of the worms, rather than the worms eating him after he died.
12:24
“But the word of God continued to spread and flourish”. Men may make all sorts of attempts to destroy the gospel, and there may well be a significant price to pay, but in the end the attempts will fail. In the examples here we see the direct intervention of God, in both cases sending a n angel. First to free Peter, secondly to kill Herod.
12:25
This verse arguably belongs with the next chapter, but the chapter divisions (which were not part of the original text) were not always put in the most logical places. The mission referred to here was the taking of the famine relief to Jerusalem. Paul (still referred to as Saul) and Barnabas return, and we are introduced to John Mark being with them, he was mentioned indirectly in 12:12.
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