According to
Acts 12:20, Herod was displeased with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and forbade the export of food to them. As they were dependent on delivery of food from
Judea, and Judea was affected by famine, the Sidonians and Tyrians made Blastus "their friend" (possibly through bribery ). Blastus helped them obtain an audience with Herod. Acts 12:23 states that Herod was struck dead by God when the people of Sidon and Tyre offered him worship. ==Other contemporary accounts==