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Herod Agrippa I

A grandson of Herod the Great who ruled Judea, executed the apostle James, and died suddenly as Acts records.

Role: King of Judea

Lived: ? – c. AD 44

Belonged to: Romans

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 1 Ancient writers — non-biblical testimony · 1

Life, role & deeds

BibleA grandson of Herod the Great who executed the apostle James and died suddenly, as Acts records.

Acts 12:2, 23

↳ James, son of Zebedee

Death & legacy

Scan by NYPL — Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons) Ancient writersThe Jewish historian Josephus describes his sudden, agonised death at Caesarea in terms strikingly close to the account in Acts; his coins also survive.

Josephus, Jewish Antiquities 19.8.2 (§343-352); cf. Acts 12:20-23; bronze prutah of Agrippa I (canopy / three-ears-of-barley type), cf. Y. Meshorer, A Treasury of Jewish Coins (Yad Ben-Zvi / Amphora, 2001).

↳ Caesarea

Where in scripture

Acts

Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly.
Acts 12:1

He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
Acts 12:2 — Kills James

The same night when Herod was about to bring him out, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains. Guards in front of the door kept the prison.
Acts 12:6

When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
Acts 12:11

When Herod had sought for him, and didn’t find him, he examined the guards, and commanded that they should be put to death. He went down from Judea to Caesarea, and stayed there.
Acts 12:19

Now Herod was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon. They came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus, the king’s personal aide, their friend, they asked for peace, because their country depended on the king’s country for food.
Acts 12:20