The Herodian Dynasty

The Herodian dynasty is a single family whose members appear across the whole New Testament, always in positions of authority and almost always in conflict with the message being preached. Herod's family tree runs from Herod the Great, king when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, through his sons and grandsons to Agrippa II, the last of the line to hear the gospel argued in his own court. The Herods are a single family whose members appear across the whole New Testament, always in positions of authority and almost always in conflict with the message being preached. Herod the Great was king when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, and when the wise men came asking where the king of the Jews had been born, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. He assembled the chief priests and scribes, learned the answer from Micah, and sent the visitors on with instructions to bring him word; when he saw he had been tricked, he killed the male children in Bethlehem two years old and under (Matthew 2:1–16).

His sons divided the territory. Archelaus reigned over Judea in his father's place, and Joseph was afraid to go there and withdrew to Galilee instead (Matthew 2:22). Herod Antipas tetrarch of Galilee, married Herodias, his brother's wife, and imprisoned John the Baptist for saying it was not lawful (Mark 6:17–18). At his birthday banquet the daughter of Herodias danced, and he swore an oath that cost John his head on a platter (Mark 6:21–28). He later heard of Jesus and wanted to see Him, and when Pilate sent Jesus to him during the trial he questioned Him at some length, but Jesus gave no answer; his soldiers treated Him with contempt and sent Him back, and that day Herod and Pilate became friends (Luke 23:8–12). Philip the Tetrarch ruled the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis in the same period (Luke 3:1).

The next generation continues the pattern. Herod Agrippa laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church, killed James son of Zebedee with the sword, and, seeing that it pleased the Jews, arrested Peter as well (Acts 12:1–3). Later, dressed in royal robes and delivering an oration at Caesarea, he accepted the shout "The voice of a god, and not of a man," and was struck down because he did not give God the glory (Acts 12:21–23).

The last of them hear Paul rather than persecute him. Drusilla, a Jewess, sat with Felix as Paul reasoned about righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, until Felix was alarmed and sent him away (Acts 24:24–25). Her sister Bernice came with Agrippa in great pomp to hear Paul at Caesarea, and after the defense Agrippa said, "In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?" and told Festus privately that the man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar (Acts 25:23; Acts 26:28–32).