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Herod Agrippa I's Profile
For good or evil, families
have lasting and powerful influence on their children. Traits and qualities are
passed on to the next generation, and often the mistakes and sins of the parents
are repeated by the children. Four generations of the Herod family are mentioned
in the Bible. Each leader left his evil mark: Herod the Great murdered
Bethlehem's children; Herod Antipas was involved in Jesus' trial and John the
Baptist's execution; Herod Agrippa I murdered the apostle James; and Herod
Agrippa II was one of Paul's judges.
Herod Agrippa I related fairly well to his Jewish subjects.
Because he had a Jewish grandmother of royal blood (Mariamne), he was grudgingly
accepted by the people. Although as a youth he had been temporarily imprisoned
by the emperor Tiberias, he was now trusted by Rome and got along well with the
emperors Caligula and Claudius.
An unexpected opportunity for Herod to gain new favor with
the Jews was created by the Christian movement. Gentiles began to be accepted
into the church in large numbers. Many Jews had been tolerating this new
movement as a sect within Judaism, but its rapid growth alarmed them.
Persecution of Christians was revived, and even the apostles were not spared.
James was killed, and Peter was thrown in to prison.
But soon, Herod made a fatal error. During a visit to
Caesarea, the people called him a god, and he accepted their praise. Herod was
immediately struck with a painful disease, and he died within a week.
Like his grandfather, uncle, and son after him, Herod Agrippa
I came close to the truth but missed it. Because religion was important only as
an aspect of politics, he had no reverence and no qualms about taking praise
that only God should receive. His mistake is a common one. Whenever we are proud
of our own abilities and accomplishments, not recognizing them as gifts from
God, we repeat Herod's sin.
Herod Agrippa I's Strengths and
Accomplishments
1. Capable administrator and negotiator
2. Managed to maintain good relations with the Jews in his region and with Rome
Herod Agrippa I's Weaknesses and Mistakes
1. Arranged the murder of the apostle James
2. Imprisoned Peter with plans to execute him
3. Allowed the people to praise him as a god
Lessons From Herod Agrippa I's Life
1. Those who set themselves against God are
doomed to ultimate failure
2. There is great danger in accepting praise that only God deserves
3. Family traits can influence children toward great good or great evil
Herod Agrippa I's Vital Statistics
1. Where: Jerusalem
2. Occupation: Roman-appointed king of the Jews
3. Relatives: Grandfather: Herod the Great. Father: Aristobulus. Uncle: Herod
Antipas. Sister: Herodias. Wife: Cypros. Son: Herod Agrippa II. Daughters:
Bernice, Mariamne, Drusilla
4. Contemporaries: Emperors Tiberias, Caligula, and Claudius. James, Peter, the
apostles.
Key Verse
"Immediately, because Herod did not give praise
to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and
died" (Acts 12:23).
Herod Agrippa I's story is told in Acts 12:1-23
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