Commentaries:
Robertson's Word Pictures (NT)
Was highly displeased (hn qumomaxwn). Periphrastic imperfect active of qumomaxew, late compound of qumov (passionate heat) and maxomai, to fight. Only here in the N.T., to fight desperately, to have a hot quarrel. Whether it was open war with the Phoenicians or just violent hostility we do not know, save that Phoenicia belonged to Syria and Herod Agrippa had no authority there. The quarrel may have been over commercial matters.
They came with one accord (omoqumadon parhsan). The representatives of Tyre and Sidon. See on Acts 1:14 for omoqumadon. Tyre was a colony of Sidon and had become one of the chief commercial cities of the world by reason of the Phoenician ships.
The king's chamberlain (ton epi tou koitwnov tou basileov). The one over the bedchamber (koitwnov, late word from koith, bed, here only in the N.T.).
Made their friend (peisantev). First aorist active participle of peiqw, to persuade. Having persuaded (probably with bribes as in Matthew 28:14).
They asked for peace (htounto eirhnhn). Imperfect middle of aitew, kept on asking for peace.
Because their country was fed (dia to trefesqai autwn thn xoran). Causal sentence with dia and the articular infinitive (present passive of trefw, to nourish or feed) and the accusative of general reference, "because of the being fed as to their country." Tyre and Sidon as large commercial cities on the coast received large supplies of grain and fruits from Palestine. Herod had cut off the supplies and that brought the two cities to action.
Other Robertson's Word Pictures (NT) entries containing Acts 12:20:
Luke 13:1
Acts 5:12
Acts 25:13
Colossians 1:5
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