Herod Agrippa I
Gentile Herodian dynasty (Idumean descent); king of Judaea under Rome · Early Church · New Testament
- Also called
- Herod, Herod the king
- Role
- King who killed James and imprisoned Peter
- When
- reigned over Judaea c. AD 41-44
What they did
He killed James the brother of John with the sword and imprisoned Peter, who was delivered by an angel; when the people hailed his speech as the voice of a god, he was smitten by an angel of the Lord and died.
Why it matters: the purpose of their role
His end shows that God opposes the proud, and 'the word of God grew and multiplied' despite persecution.
But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:24 (KJV)
Bible references
Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) Acts 12:1-3 (KJV)
And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. Acts 12:21-23 (KJV)
But the word of God grew and multiplied. Acts 12:24 (KJV)
Family
History records him as a grandson of Herod the Great and the father of Agrippa II, Bernice and Drusilla.