Herod Agrippa I
A person in the Bible. Also called Agrippa I, King Herod Agrippa, Herod the king (Acts 12).
| Classification | Biblical figure |
|---|---|
| Era | First half of the first century AD (generally said to have died c. AD 44) |
| Related Figures | Peter, James the son of Zebedee, Blastus |
| Biblical References | Acts 12 |
| Family (According to Josephus) | Grandson of Herod the Great; brother of Herodias; father of Agrippa II, Bernice, and Drusilla |
Herod Agrippa I was a grandson of Herod the Great and a king who ruled Judea in the first half of the first century. In Acts 12 he is called "Herod the king" and appears as the ruler who killed James the son of Zebedee and imprisoned Peter.
About this articleAI draft from a Korean source. Notes on Korean Protestant practice. No sources listed. Not yet reviewed by a person.
- Origin
Drafted by AI from the Korean church.wiki article, then translated and adapted for English readers on 5 November 2026.
- Perspective
Includes notes on Korean Protestant practice; other traditions are noted where they differ.
- Sources
None listed yet. The article draws on the biblical text and general reference works. Add a source
- Review
Not yet reviewed by a person. Last edited by a person: never. Translation updated 5 November 2026. Edit history
Biblical Record
He appears only in Acts 12. The text never uses the name "Agrippa," referring to him simply as "Herod the king" or "Herod." He is distinct from Herod the Great of Matthew 2 and from Herod the tetrarch (Antipas) of Matthew 14.
- Execution of James: Herod the king, intending to harm certain members of the church, killed James the brother of John with the sword (Acts 12:1-2).
- Imprisonment of Peter: Seeing that this pleased the Jews, he arrested Peter during the days of unleavened bread and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to guard him. He intended to bring him out before the people after Passover, but in the meantime the church prayed earnestly for him. After the angel of the Lord led Peter out of the prison, Herod examined the keepers and commanded that they be put to death (Acts 12:3-19).
- Death: Herod went down from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there. The people of Tyre and Sidon, with whom he was at odds, sought reconciliation through Blastus, the king's chamberlain, because their country was nourished by the king's country. On a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, delivered an oration, and the people shouted, "It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." Because he gave not God the glory, the angel of the Lord immediately smote him, and he was eaten of worms and died (Acts 12:20-23).
Significance in Scripture
After recording the downfall of a king who persecuted the church, Acts 12 continues, "But the word of God grew and multiplied" (Acts 12:24). The passage is structured to contrast persecution by the powerful with the spread of the word. The death of James is the only martyrdom among the Twelve Apostles directly recorded in the New Testament. Herod Agrippa I is not mentioned elsewhere in Scripture.
Interpretation and Debates
- Identification: The identification of the "Herod" of Acts 12 with Agrippa I rests on the Antiquities of the Jews by the first-century Jewish historian Josephus. According to Josephus, he was raised in Rome and was close to the emperors Caligula and Claudius. Through these connections he received territories in succession and is said to have ruled most of the former realm of his grandfather Herod the Great from about AD 41. His son Agrippa (II) appears in Acts 25-26. His daughter Drusilla appears in Acts 24:24 as the wife of Felix; her identification as the daughter of Agrippa I is based on the account of Josephus.
- Comparison of the accounts of his death: Josephus likewise records that when he appeared in Caesarea in splendid attire and the people called him a god, he did not reject their acclamation. Shortly afterward he was seized with abdominal pain and died a few days later; his death is usually dated to about AD 44. The two accounts agree in broad outline but differ in detail. Various conjectures have been offered about the medical cause of his death, but none has been established.
- Confusion of names: Several people in the New Testament are called "Herod." As a result, sermons and teaching materials sometimes treat Herod the Great, Herod Antipas, and Agrippa I as though they were one person. For the relationships among them, see the article Herod.
Perspective: Korean Protestant practiceHow this figure is used in Korean churches, kept from the original Korean article.
In Korean Protestant churches, Acts 12 is treated mainly in sermons on the power of prayer, centered on the words "but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him" (Acts 12:5). Herod's death is frequently cited in sermons on pride and on living a life that gives glory to God. In Sunday school he is introduced as a figure in the story of Peter's deliverance from prison.
Where Herod Agrippa I appears
One passage in the King James Version. Each opens in the Bible with a way back to this article.
See also 8
Is there a problem with this article? Report it
Log in to report. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours.
Discussion 0
Share corrections, other viewpoints or questions about this article.