Who’s King?

Acts 12:1-3

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also.

N. T. Wright, Acts for Everyone (Part One)

Luke has told the story [of Acts] in such a way as to leave this first half with a direct showdown between the official, reigning “king of the Jews” and the unofficial king, Jesus the Messiah. The good news of his kingly rule has been announced in Jerusalem, Judaea and Samaria; the local king who would be most threatened by this has done his worst, and it hasn’t worked. Now, Luke is suggesting, it’s time to see what will happen when Jesus is announced as Lord of the world (183).