Note 1 at Acts 12:20: Tyre was an ancient Phoenician city located on the Mediterranean coast approximately 20 miles south of Sidon and 28 miles due west of Caesarea Philippi. The city consisted of two parts, (1) the main city on the mainland and protected by a rocky coast and (2) a small, well fortified island about 1/2 mile offshore. Tyre was a very ancient city that was mentioned in Egyptian writings in the 14th century B.C.

Although the Lord included Phoenica in the land that He gave to the Jews (Num. 34:6-8), they never conquered these people. David made an alliance with Hiram, the king of Tyre (2 Sam. 5:11) which was continued with Solomon after the death of David. In some of the Bible's prophecies against Tyre, there is abundant information about the importance of this city and its vast influence (Eze. 27).

Tyre and Israel ceased to have friendly relations and the prophet Amos denounced Tyre for delivering up the Israelites to Edom (Amos 1:9), and Joel said the people of Tyre and Sidon had plundered Israel and sold the Jews as slaves to the Greeks (Joel 3:4-6).

The destruction of Tyre was prophesied by Amos (Amos 1:9), Joel (Joel 3:7- 8), Isaiah (Isa. 23), Jeremiah (Jer. 27:1-11), and Ezekiel (Eze. 26-28:19; 29:18-20). Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for 13 years until he finally subdued it. In 332 B.C. Alexander the Great conquered the city after a siege of seven months and the construction of an earthen causeway from the mainland to the island.

Jesus visited the coasts of Tyre and Sidon (Mt. 15:21-31; Mk. 7:24-31). People in Tyre had already been converted to Christianity when Paul visited there in Acts 21:3-4.

These people of Tyre and Sidon, mentioned in this verse, were not under the direct rule of Herod, but their small coastland was not able to sustain them without the aid of their neighboring cities, which were under Herod's jurisdiction. This is the reason that they came to seek Herod's favor and flattered him as they did.