Now (1) about that time (a) Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.
(1) God gives his Church peace only for a short time.
(a) This name Herod was common to all those that come from the stock of Herod Ascalonites, whose surname was Magnus: but he that is spoken of here was nephew to Herod the great, son to Aristobulus, and father to the Agrippa who is spoken of afterwards.