Herod
Herod Agrippa I was a king who persecuted the early church, killing James and imprisoning Peter.
The name Herod means “son of a hero”
MaleTetrarchCanaanNew Testament eraNew Testament1 book10 verses
Summary
Tetrarch Herod Agrippa I over Judea living at the time of the New Testament, first mentioned at Acts 12:1; only referred to as Herod (Ἡρώδης); a brother of Herodias; father of: Tetrarch Agrippa II.
Glossary entries
Family members
Alternative names
- ἩρώδηςHerod
Mentions
Includes 4 verses that refer to Herod without naming them, as “he”, “she”, or the subject of a verb.
- About that time, King Herod reached out to harm some who belonged to the church.
- Acts 12:2Referred to, not namedHe had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.
- Acts 12:3Referred to, not namedAnd seeing that this pleased the Jews, Herod proceeded to seize Peter during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
- Acts 12:4Referred to, not namedHe arrested him and put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out to the people after the Passover.
- On the night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, with sentries standing guard at the entrance to the prison.
- Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know for sure that the Lord has sent His angel and rescued me from Herod’s grasp and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.”
- After Herod had searched for him unsuccessfully, he examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then he went down from Judea to Caesarea and spent some time there.
- Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
- On the appointed day, Herod donned his royal robes, sat on his throne, and addressed the people.
- Acts 12:23Referred to, not namedImmediately, because Herod did not give glory to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.