Fbco Sunday Sermons

Herod was the ultimate politician. He grew up as a wealthy playboy in Rome. He could be as Roman as any Roman when he was around Romans. But when he became the “king” of Israel, he pretended to be the most pious Jew in the land. Just to win a few more points in the popularity polls, he put to death James, one of the “big three” original disciples. He then arrested Peter and would have put him to death, too, except that God sent an angel to rescue Peter. His callous disregard for life is seen in that he put to death the soldiers charged with guarding Peter, though they had no part in his escape and had done their duty to the letter. But you can’t fight against God and an angel. Now we find God sending another angel to do His bidding. This time Herod is “touched by an angel” and dies of a painful case of worms. This event is told in even more detail by the Jewish historian of that time, Josephus. Thanks to him, we know it occurred in AD 44. The day Herod made his public appearance he chose to wear a special g