New Testament Characters - Herods

	As we begin our examination of New Testament characters, let's take a look at the most powerful political figures in Palestine: the Herods.
	Remember that Mattathias leads a revolt against a ruler named Antiochus.  Mattathias is a member of the Asmonean, or Hasmonaean, family.  His ancestor Hashman is a descendant of the priest Jehoiarib mentioned in 1 Chronicles 24:7.  This family is more commonly known,  though, by the surname of Mattathias' son, Judas Maccabaeus.  He leads the Jews from 166 to 160 B.C.   Jonathan, brother of Judas, rules from 160-143 B.C.  He is in turn followed by another brother, Simon.  Simon's son, John Hyrcanus, takes over until 105 B.C.  Since this leading family is associated with the Sadducees, there is born a long-lasting feud between this religious faction and the Pharisees. 
	During this time, the position of high priest is frequently obtained through violence or bribery.
	Alexander Jannaeus, son of Hyrcanus, appoints Antipas as governor of the region known as Idumaea.  This is the area we know from the Old Testament as Edom.  So this family, which is to rule Palestine for many decades, is not Jewish but Edomite.  The Edomites are descendants of Esau, Jacob's brother.
	Antipater, son of Antipas, sides with Hyrcanus II in a struggle against his brother, Artistobulus II.  The Romans enter the story on the side of Antipater, and it is at this time that Pompey captures Jerusalem in 63 B.C.  Antipater is eventually named Roman procurator over all of Judea.
	Following a few decades of continued conflict, Antipater's son emerges as the ruler.  This son, a friend of Marc Antony, is Herod the Great.  He rules Palestine from 37 B.C. until 4 A.D.
	Herod is a great schemer and a great builder.  He rebuilds the temple for the second time.   But his name is a little misleading.  He is definitely not a great man morally.  It is this Herod who feels threatened by the birth of Jesus.
	"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king," we read in Matthew 2:1-3, "behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east, and have come to worship Him.'  And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.  And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he {began} to inquire of them where the Christ was to be born."
	"Then Herod secretly called the magi, and ascertained from them the time the star appeared," the story continues with verses seven and eight.  "And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, 'Go and make careful search for the Child; and when you have found {Him,} report to me, that I too may come and worship Him.'"
	Of course, this is not Herod's intent at all.
	"Now when they had departed," we note from verses 13-16, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, 'Arise and take the Child and His mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.'  And he arose and took the Child and His mother by night, and departed for Egypt; and was there until the death of Herod, that what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet might be fulfilled, saying, 'Out of Egypt did I call My Son.'  Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its environs, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the magi."
	As verse 22 points out, Herod Archelaus takes his father's place as ruler, or ethnarch, in Judea.  His kingdom, half of the area governed by his father, also includes Samaria and Idumaea.  Another son, Herod Antipas, contests the granting of so much of this territory to Archelaus, but the older brother wins.  Antipas is made tetrarch of Galilee.
	His father is an Edomite and his mother is a Samaritan, which makes him anything but popular with the Jewish people.  He puts away his wife, a daughter of the king of Persia, in favor of Herodias, wife of his half-brother Philip.   She is also the daughter of another half-brother, Aristobulus, and therefore his niece.  So he takes his sister-in-law and niece as his own wife. John the Baptist preaches during his rule. 
	"Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar," Luke 3:1-2 records, "when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip was tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness."
	Antipas is the Herod, then, who places John in prison and who is eventually lead by Herodias to have him beheaded.
	"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus," Matthew 14:1-11 reports, "and said to his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.'  For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.  For John had been saying to him, 'It is not lawful for you to have her.' And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet.  But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before {them} and pleased Herod.  Thereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.  And having been prompted by her mother, she said, 'Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.'  And although he was grieved, the king commanded {it} to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests. And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.  And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl; and she brought {it} to her mother."
	Antipas is also the Herod who receives a message from Jesus in Luke 13:31-32.
	"Just at that time some Pharisees came up," this passage recounts, "saying to Him, 'Go away and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.'  And He said to them, 'Go and tell that fox, "Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third {day} I reach My goal."'" 
	His influence on the Jewish people is bad, as Jesus points out in Mark 8:15.
	"Watch out!" the Lord instructs.  "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod." 
	When Pilate is trying to decide what to do with Jesus, he sends him to Antipas.
	"And when he learned that He belonged to Herod's jurisdiction," Luke 23:7-12 records, "he sent Him to Herod, who himself also was in Jerusalem at that time.  Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.  And he questioned Him at some length; but He answered him nothing.  And the chief priests and the scribes were standing there, accusing Him vehemently.  And Herod with his soldiers, after treating Him with contempt and mocking Him, dressed Him in a gorgeous robe and sent Him back to Pilate.  Now Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day; for before they had been at enmity with each other."
	But even this wicked ruler can find no concrete evidence against Jesus.
	"And Pilate summoned the chief priests and the rulers and the people," the passage continues, "and said to them, 'You brought this man to me as one who incites the people to rebellion, and behold, having examined Him before you, I have found no guilt in this man regarding the charges which you make against Him.  No, nor has Herod, for he sent Him back to us; and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by Him.'"

	Agrippa I is the son of Aristobulus and Mariamne, granddaughter of Hyrcanus.  So he unites the lineages of the Herods with that of the Asmoneans or Maccabees.  He is educated in Rome with Claudius.  He also becomes a friend of Caligula.  He hates his uncle, Antipas, and uses his contacts in Rome to replace him.
	Agrippa is much more able than his predecessors in dealing with the Jews.  He talks Caligula into stopping an order to erect in Jerusalem a statue of the emperor.  He is also quick to side with the Jews against the threat of Christianity.
	"Now about that time Herod the king laid hands on some who belonged to the church, in order to mistreat them'" Acts 12:1-4 states.  "And he had James the brother of John put to death with a sword.  And when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. Now it was during the days of Unleavened Bread.  And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out before the people."
	Peter is lead out of the prison by an angel.  Herod is not happy when he receives the news, as we note in the latter verses of the chapter.  These verses also record Agrippa's fate.
	"Now when day came," we read beginning in verse 18, "there was no small disturbance among the soldiers {as to} what could have become of Peter.  And when Herod had searched for him and had not found him, he examined the guards and ordered that they be led away {to execution.} And he went down from Judea to Caesarea and was spending time there.  Now he was very angry with the people of Tyre and Sidon; and with one accord they came to him, and having won over Blastus the king's chamberlain, they were asking for peace, because their country was fed by the king's country.  And on an appointed day Herod, having put on his royal apparel, took his seat on the rostrum and {began} delivering an address to them.  And the people kept crying out, "The voice of a god and not of a man!"  And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and died."
	Agrippa's children include Bernice, Drusilla and Agrippa II. Bernice becomes the consort of her own brother.  Drusilla marries Felix, the Roman governor when Paul is arrested in Jerusalem.
	"But Felix, having a more exact knowledge about the Way," Acts 24:22-25 notes of Paul's situation, "put them off, saying, 'When Lysias the commander comes down, I will decide your case.' And he gave orders to the centurion for him to be kept in custody and {yet} have {some} freedom, and not to prevent any of his friends from ministering to him.  But some days later, Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul, and heard him {speak} about faith in Christ Jesus.  And as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, 'Go away for the present, and when I find time, I will summon you.'"
	As a favor to the Jews, Felix keeps Paul in prison.  Felix is replaced two years later by Festus.  Wanting to please the Jews, Festus asks Paul whether he is willing to face trial in Jerusalem.  Paul knows that the Jews are planning on ambushing him, so he exercises his right as a Roman citizen to appeal to the Emperor.  Festus grants the request.
	"Now when several days had elapsed," we read in Acts 25:13, "King Agrippa and Bernice arrived at Caesarea, and paid their respects to Festus."
	When Festus explains Paul's situation, Agrippa II expresses a desire to hear what the apostle has to say.
	"And so," Acts 25:23 observes, "on the next day when Agrippa had come together with Bernice, amid great pomp, and had entered the auditorium accompanied by the commanders and the prominent men of the city, at the command of Festus, Paul was brought in." 
	"In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews," Paul says beginning in Acts 26:2, "I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today; especially because you are an expert in all customs and questions among {the} Jews; therefore I beg you to listen to me patiently."
	Paul continues with a brief account of his history.  Festus interrupts when Paul begins to speak of sharing with the Gentiles the news about Jesus and the resurrection.
	"And while {Paul} was saying this in his defense," Acts 26:24-29 states, "Festus said in a loud voice, 'Paul, you are out of your mind! {Your} great learning is driving you mad.' But Paul said, 'I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.  For the king knows about these matters, and I speak to him also with confidence, since I am persuaded that none of these things escape his notice; for this has not been done in a corner.  King Agrippa, do you believe the Prophets? I know that you do.'  And Agrippa {replied} to Paul, 'In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian.'  And Paul {said,} 'I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.'  And the king arose and the governor and Bernice, and those who were sitting with them, and when they had drawn aside, they {began} talking to one another, saying, 'This man is not doing anything worthy of death or imprisonment.'  And Agrippa said to Festus, 'This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.'" 
	It's ironic, isn't it?  The Herods and their in-laws seem to have so much influence over the freedom of John the Baptist, James, Peter, Paul and even Jesus.  And they have so many excuses when they hear the gospel.
	"Go away for the present," one of them says, "and when I find time, I will summon you."
	"In a short time you will persuade me to become a Christian," another one quips.
	All the while, it is Paul and his fellow-Christians who are free.  Are we like Paul or are we like the Herods?  Do we always have an excuse why we cannot obey the truth and be set free? 

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."