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

Although the Lord included Phoenicia in the land that He gave to the Jews (Nu 34:6-8), they never conquered these people. David made an alliance with Hiram, the king of Tyre (2Sa 5:11), and this was continued with Solomon after the death of David (1Ki 5:1). Some of the Bible's prophecies against Tyre contain 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 (Am 1:9). Joel said the people of Tyre and Sidon had plundered Israel and sold the Jews as slaves to the Greeks (Joe 3:4-6).

The destruction of Tyre was prophesied by Amos (Am 1:9-10), Joel (Joe 3:7-8), Isaiah (Isa 23), Jeremiah (Jer 27:1-11), and Ezekiel (Eze 26:1-28:19 and 29:18-20). Nebuchadnezzar besieged Tyre for thirteen 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 and Mr 7:24). People in Tyre had already been converted to Christianity when Paul visited there (Ac 21:3-4).

The 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 the neighboring cities, which were under Herod's jurisdiction. This is the reason they came to seek Herod's favor and flattered him as they did.