Like great-grandfather, like grandfather, like father, like son
- this tells the story of Herod Agrippa II. He inherited the effects of
generations of powerful men with flawed personalities. Each son followed his
father in weaknesses, mistakes, and missed opportunities. Each generation had a
confrontation with God, but each failed to realize the importance of the
decision. Herod Agrippa's great-uncle, Herod Antipas, actually met Jesus during
his trial, but failed to see Jesus for who he was. Agrippa II heard the gospel
from Paul, but considered the message mild entertainment. He found it humorous
that Paul actually tried to convince him to become a Christian.
Like so many before and after, Agrippa II stopped within hearing
distance of the kingdom of God. He left himself without excuse. He heard the
gospel but decided it wasn't worth responding to personally. Unfortunately, his
mistake isn't uncommon. Many who read his story also will not believe. Their
problem, like his, is not really that the gospel isn't convincing or that they
don't need to know God personally; it is that they choose not to respond.
What has been your response to the gospel? Has it turned your life
around and given you the hope of eternal life, or has it been a message to
resist or reject? Perhaps it has just been entertainment. It may seem like too
great a price to give God control of your life, but it is an even greater price
by far to live eternally apart from him because you have chosen not to be his
child.
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Herod Agrippa II's Strengths and Accomplishments
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* Last of the Herod dynasty that ruled parts of Palestine from 40 B.C. to
A.D. 100
* Continued his father's success in mediating between Rome and Palestine
* Continued the family tradition of building and improving cities
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Herod Agrippa II's Weaknesses and Mistakes
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* Was not convinced by the gospel and consciously rejected it
* Carried on an incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice
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Lessons from Herod Agrippa II's Life
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* Families pass on both positive and negative influences to children
* There are no guarantees of multiple opportunities to respond to God
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Vital Statistics
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* Occupation: Ruler of northern and eastern Palestine
* Relatives: Great-grandfather: Herod the Great.
Father: Herod Agrippa I.
Great-uncle: Herod Antipas.
Sister: Bernice, Drusilla
* Contemporaries: Paul, Felix, Festus, Peter, Luke
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Key Verse
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"Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'Do you think that in such a short time you can
persuade me to be a Christian?'" (Acts 26:28).
Herod Agrippa II's story is told in Acts 25:13—26:32.