He was borne in a state of the most excruciating anguish from the scene of wicked revelry, the mirth, and pomp, and display of which he now loathed in his soul. A moment before, he had been the proud recipient of the praise and worship of that vast throng—now he felt himself in the hands of a Ruler mightier than himself. Remorse seized him; he remembered his cruel command to slay the innocent James; he remembered his relentless persecution of the followers of Christ, and his design to put to death the apostle Peter, whom God had delivered out of his hand; he remembered how, in his mortification and disappointed rage, he had wreaked his unreasoning revenge upon the keepers of the prisoner, and executed them without mercy. He felt that God, who had rescued the apostle from death, was now dealing with him, the relentless persecutor. He found no relief from pain of body or anguish of mind, and he expected none. Herod was acquainted with the law of God, which says, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me,” and he knew that in accepting the worship of the people he had filled up the measure of his iniquity, and had brought upon him the just wrath of God. {3SP 344.1}

Han blev båret i de mest pinefulde kvaler fra det ugudelige gilde, latter og pomp, frem til det som nu væmmes ved i sin sjæl. For et øjeblik siden, tog han stolt imod den umådelige skares ros og tilbedelse – følte han nu at han selv var i en mægtigere Herskers hænder end ham selv. Samvittighedsnag fangede ham, han huskede sin grusomme befaling at ihjelslå den uskyldige Jakob; han huskede sin ubarmhjertige forfølge af Kristi efterfølgere, og hans plan med at lægge apostlen Peter i døden, som Gud hade udfriet af hans hånd; i sin ydmygelse og skuffede raseri huskede han nu at han havde udøst sin afsindige hævngerrighed over fange vogterne, og eksekveret dem uden nåde. Han følte at Gud, som havde reddet apostlen fra døden, nu behandlede ham som en nådesløs forfølger. Han fandt ingen lindring fra kropslidelse, eller sindspine, og han forventede intet. Herodes kendte Guds lov som siger: "Du skal ikke have andre guder end mig," og han vidste at når han accepterede folkets tilbedelse, havde han fyldt sin synds mål, og havde pådraget sig Guds retfærdige vrede.