A king, Herod Agrippa I, lived and reigned during the early years of the church in the first century AD.

Jerusalem
King Agrippa 1 had James, one of Jesus’ disciples and an apostle, killed with the sword in Jerusalem.  He had Simon Peter arrested with the intent of killing him also.  The Lord sent an angel to lead Peter out of prison.  When Peter escaped prison the guards were executed on orders of King Agrippa I.  Acts 12:1-5

Caesarea
King Agrippa I went to the Roman city of Caesarea-by-the-Sea in Israel.  He was declared a “god” by the people in the Roman amphitheater and hippodrome.  The king didn’t deny the crowd’s adulation… after all he was the king and he had power over men’s lives. Acts 12:19-22

Be careful!  Be very careful of people when they flatter and puff you up…
Remember: God never takes such adulation lightly.  He alone is God.  He will judge you and your response to such adulation.

(NASB) Deuteronomy 6:4 “Hear, O Israel!  The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!”

He alone is God.  There is no other God, period.

Take accountability for your response to praise and adulation.  Your attitude and actions reveal your heart.  King Agrippa I welcomed such adulation, adoration and acclamation.  The king was judged for not giving honor to the living God.

God’s judgment was immediate.  And King Agrippa I died a painful and gruesome death within five days.  Acts 12:23

~ Take it to heart ~

No one, absolutely no one, is greater than the living God.

“I am the LORD, that is My name;
I will not give My glory to another,
Nor My praise to graven images.”
(NASB) Isaiah 42:8

We are accountable to God for our attitudes and responses,
no matter our position or power in this life.