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HEROD, HEROD, HEROD or HEROD

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  • Post category:Bible Study / Blog
  • Post last modified:February 9, 2020
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Are you ever confused about Herod?

The information we receive about Herod and his influence within the New Testament is confusing. Would you like to have some help to understand facts surrounding Herod? If so, then continue reading.

While reading the New Testament, we find oppression and persecution from Herod. Who is this man—this ruler who tries to kill baby Jesus (Matthew 2)?

In Mark 6, we watch Herod execute John the Baptist. Later in Luke 23 Herod wants Jesus to perform like a Las Vegas magic performer. Herod makes fun of Jesus, he dresses Jesus in an expensive robe, refuses to pass judgment upon Him, and sent Him back to Pilate.

Wait! What? Herod tried to kill Jesus as a baby but refuses to pass judgment on Him. Does Herod know that this man, he was mocking, is the baby he tried to kill?

Then in Acts 12 we hear Herod is a persecutor of the apostles.

And how old is this man? He was ruling before Jesus was born and continues to rule years after His death, burial and Ascension.

We can easily find ourselves confused over Herod.

We need to understand, the New Testament has more than one Herod. We should look at the name “Herod” more like a title than a name. Herod is a familial name but the name of a family with multiple rulers. So, the family name of Herod became almost synonymous with the title “King.”

Herod the Great (king of Judea)

  • Roman client king of Judea 37 BCE–4 BCE
  • Grandfather of Herod the Agrippa I
  • Father to Herod Antipas
  • Loose with his Jewish faith
  • Built fortresses for Rome
  • Installed the aqueducts
  • Commissioned, the building of theaters, and other public buildings
  • Enhanced the beauty of the temple in Jerusalem
  • Murdered two wives
  • Murdered three sons
  • Murdered all baby boys to kill Jesus (Matthew 2)
  • Died of intestinal cancer in 4 B.C.

Herod Antipas (ruler in Galilee)

  • Inherited 1/4 of his father’s kingdom (along with his two brothers, Archelaus, and Herod Philip)
  • Called tetrarch (Greek: “ruler of a quarter”)
  • Uncle to Herod Agrippa I
  • Son of Herod the Great
  • Murdered John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-28; Matthew 14:3-12)
  • Refuses to pass judgment against Jesus (Luke 23:7–12).

Herod Agrippa I (King of Judea)

  • King in of Judea and all Palestine, A.D. 41-44
  • Grandson to Herod the Great
  • Nephew of Herod Antipas
  • Friends with Emperor Tiberius
  • Friends with Emperor Caligula
  • Friends with Emperor Claudius
  • Reunited the three sovereignties of Herod the Great
  • The king who persecutes the Christians in Acts 12

The primary responsibility (as any ruler appointed by Rome) was to maintain the status quo.

Acts 12

Herod Agrippa I didn’t want to jeopardize his appointment from Rome. So, he appeased the Jewish people by persecuting the Christians. The murder of James brought such pleasure to the Jewish people that Herod Agrippa I When he realized that murdering James pleasured the Jews he went after Peter too.

The only reason they arrested Peter was because Herod Agrippa I wanted to get political approval. His arrest was during the Festival of Unleavened bread and guarded my 16 soldiers. But he escapes from the jail. This angered Herod Agrippa I so he murdered all 16 soldiers.

In Caesarea Herod Agrippa I brought an end to a political dispute, so the people praised him as a god. Because he didn’t turn the praise back to God, an angel struck him down.

The historian Josephus said, Herod Agrippa I immediately fell will a pain in his stomach; the pain lingered for five days before he died.

However, this is great news “… the word of God continued to spread and flourish” (Acts 12:24).

Herod Agrippa II

  • Great grandson of Herod the Great
  • Heard Paul’s defense (Acts 25-26)
  • Abused his power over the people
  • He was removed from office and banished by Augustus (A.D. 6)

Conclusion

Now that we have a better understanding of the four Herods we can focus on the word of the Lord. I recommend you save a copy of the article for your quick reference.

References

Gundry, Robert H. A Survey of the New Testament. Third. Edition. Grand Rapids, MA.  

Zondervan Publishing House, 1994, 27-37.

Josephus. Jewish Antiquities. 7 vols. Loeb. Classical Liberty. Cambridge, Mass. Harvard

University Press, 1930-65.

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