163 The Variant Readings of the Western Text of the Acts of the Apostles B03 and D05 read the singular, establishing a balanced comparison with θεο at the beginning of the phrase; the balance is absent in )01* which reads the plural. 23 π ταξεν α τ ν B P74 ) rell; Lcf ‖ α . π. D Ψ 36. 431. 453. 467. 614. 616. 945. 1108. 1270. 1518. 1611. 1739. 1891. 2138. 2298. 2412 pc d gig; Chr Theoph. The placing of the pronoun before the verb highlights the ironic appli- cation of the verb πατ σσω to Herod, it being the verb used of the angel of the Lord smiting the first-born on the night of Passover in Egypt. The text of B03 does not appear to identify the irony, having already selected this verb for the angel awaking Peter at 12:7 (see v. 7 above). τ ν (δ ξαν) B P74 ) A 33. 81. 323. 945. 1175. 1739. 1891. 2344 ‖ om. D E H L P Ψ 049. 056. 614 M. ‘To give glory/honour to God’ is a common expression in the Jewish Scriptures or liturgy37, without the article in the LXX (see e.g. Jos. 7:19; 1 Kgdms 6:5; 1 Chron. 16:28.29; cf. Num 27:20, δ σει τ δ ξη σου) as in Lk. 17:18. Thus, D05 follows the Jewish pattern here. π το β ματο D d mae; Ephr ‖ om. B P74 ) rell.– (σκωλη- (κα ) καταβ κ βρωτο ) τι ζ ν D d mae ‖ om. B P74 ) rell.– κα ο τω ( ξ ψυξεν) D d mae; Ephr ‖ om. B P74 ) rell. The text of D05 gives a more graphic account of Herod’s death, high- lighting two details, namely, that he came down from the tribunal and that it was while he was still alive that he was eaten by worms and thus died. The first detail makes explicit his dethronement, in parallel with that of the Prince of Tyre as described in Ezek. 28:8.17; cf. 26:15-18. Being eaten alive by worms was a typical punishment in Jewish tradition for blasphemers and slanderers (cf. 2 Macc. 9:9)38. Colophon: 12:24-25 Conclusion The two verses appear, at first sight, to be of a contrasting nature, the one a general comment on the spread of the word, and the other a piece of particular information relating to the visit of Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem. In actual fact, both are comments that describe the conse- 37 B-A-G, δοξα, 3. 38 L. Ginzberg, The Legends of the Jews (7 vols; Philadelphia 111982) 213, n. 136.