19 Herod ordered his own soldiers to search for him, but they could not find him. Then he questioned the guards and had them put to death. After this, Herod left Judea to stay in Caesarea for a while.
20 Herod and the people of Tyre and Sidon were very angry with each other. But their country got its food supply from the region that he ruled. So a group of them went to see Blastus, who was one of Herod's high officials. They convinced Blastus that they wanted to make peace between their cities and Herod,
21 and a day was set for them to meet with him.Herod came dressed in his royal robes. He sat down on his throne and made a speech.
22 The people shouted, “You speak more like a god than a man!”
23 At once an angel from the Lord struck him down because he took the honour that belonged to God. Later, Herod was eaten by worms and died.
24 God's message kept spreading.
25 And after Barnabas and Saul had done the work they were sent to do, they went back to Jerusalem with John, whose other name was Mark.