Acts 12:20-25
20 Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. So they sent a delegation to make peace with him because their cities were dependent upon Herod’s country for food. The delegates won the support of Blastus, Herod’s personal assistant, 21 and an appointment with Herod was granted. When the day arrived, Herod put on his royal robes, sat on his throne, and made a speech to them. 22 The people gave him a great ovation, shouting, “It’s the voice of a god, not of a man!”
23 Instantly, an angel of the Lord struck Herod with a sickness, because he accepted the people’s worship instead of giving the glory to God. So he was consumed with worms and died.
24 Meanwhile, the word of God continued to spread, and there were many new believers.
25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission to Jerusalem, they returned, taking John Mark with them.
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It seems that Herod needed to be neutralized for the sake of the expansion or the church. Herod gives the Holy Spirit opportunity and the blow is struck. Herod dies and the church continued to spread.
Again, the Holy Spirit is shaping events for the benefit of the newly birthed church. Not every event is comfortable for the disciples, but Romans 8:28–all things are worked by God for good–is evident in all that Luke reports. The purpose of the activity in the spiritual realm is to promote the Gospel.