²³ Then immediately an angel of the Lord ^(A)struck him, because ^(B)he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and ^[a]died.

²⁴ But ^(C)the word of God grew and multiplied.

¹⁷ And in every province and city, wherever the king’s command and decree came, the Jews had joy and gladness, a feast ^(A)and a holiday. Then many of the people of the land ^(B)became Jews, because ^(C)fear of the Jews fell upon them.