Luke’s portrayal of Herod’s death (12:19b–25) provides a strong contrast to the depiction of Peter’s deliverance. Luke explicitly identifies the cause of Herod’s death as his refusal to give glory to God (12:23), when the people declared, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” The act of honoring Herod is therefore interpreted as an act of idolatry that cannot be tolerated. Herod’s arrogance is contrasted with the humility of Peter, who, after escaping from prison, honors God as the one who has saved him (12:11). Herod’s failure to recognize that Jesus is the only Lord of all led to his destruction by “an angel of the Lord” (12:23), the same agent that earlier delivered Peter from prison (12:11). Josephus also provides a description of Herod Agrippa’s demise (Jewish Antiquities 19.34…