Herod Antipas

Antipater was born in Idumaea, which was located in the area southeast of Judea between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba (see also Paul's Geography Lesson). Antipater became an official in the remnant of the Hasmonean kingdom of Judah, which from its earlier history is best-known from when the Maccabees overthrew the Greek-Seleucids after they committed the original "abomination of desolation" in Jerusalem (see Antiochus And The Maccabees and Christ's Hanukkah). After the fall of the Greek-Ptolemies in Egypt to the Roman Republic (see The Cleopatra Connection) and the birth of the Roman Empire (see Pax Romana: The Birth Of The Roman Empire) after the assassination of Julius Caesar (see The Politics Of Rome), the Romans took over the land of Judah, thereby setting the stage for the Roman military occupation as recorded in the New Testament. Antipater managed to transfer his loyalty to the Romans, who made him the first Roman Procurator (i.e. governor) of Judea, however he was assassinated (poisoned) in 43 BC by Jews who regarded him as a traitor to their Hasmonean kingdom (which he was).

After Antipater was killed, his son Herod, later known as Herod the Great, established the now-familiar family name and dynasty that continued their political "services" to Rome. While there were a number of "Herods" (Herod the Great, Herod Archelaus, Herod Antipas, Herod II, Philip the Tetrarch, Herod Agrippa I, Herod of Chalcis and Herod Agrippa II, among others), four of them are most-prominent in Bible History.

Herod the Great (the only thing "great" about him was his evil) attempted to have the newborn Messiah killed:

"^2:12 And being warned of God in a dream that they [i.e. the Magi; see Why Did The Magi Come?] should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

^2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt [see The Flight Into Egypt], and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. ^2:14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: ^2:15 And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." (Matthew 2:12-15 KJV)

Herod Antipas beheaded John the Baptist and oversaw the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ:

"^14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John [see also What Was Strange About John The Baptist?], and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. ^14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her." (Matthew 14:3-4 KJV)

"^23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee [see The Prophet Of Galilee], he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. ^23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time." (Luke 23:6-7 KJV)

Herod Agrippa I martyred the apostle James (the brother of the apostle John) and attempted to kill the apostle Peter:

"^12:1 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. ^12:2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. ^12:3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews [see The First Christian Church and When Do Jews Become Christians?; also Who Were The First Jews?], he proceeded further to take Peter also." (Acts 12:1-3 KJV)

Herod Agrippa II presided over the "trial" of the apostle Paul (see Paul The Christian):

"^25:22 Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him. ^25:23 And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come, and Bernice, with great pomp, and was entered into the place of hearing, with the chief captains, and principal men of the city, at Festus' commandment Paul was brought forth." (Acts 25:22-23 KJV)

"Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate"

Herod Antipas (also known as Herod Antipater) was the son of Herod the Great and his Samaritan wife Malthace. He inherited much (he held the title of Tetrarch, which means ruler of a quarter) of his father's "kingdom" in the land of Israel. Like his father before him (see What Was Holy About Herod's Temple?), he regarded himself as a great builder, including projects at Sepphoris and Betharamphtha, as well as his assumed capital city of Tiberias, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (see the map), down the coast from Capernaum (where the Messiah lived after He left Nazareth) and Magdala (the home town of Mary of Magdala, who became the first human witness of Christ's resurrection; see True Witnesses Of The Resurrection). He named the city after Tiberius, the Roman Emperor at that time.

Herod Antipas was directly responsible for the murder of the greatest prophet that ever lived ("^11:9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. ^11:10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. ^11:11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist" Matthew 11:9-11 KJV), apart from the Christ Himself, who Herod Antipas also had killed (see Lethal Lust).

"^14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, ^14:2 And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead [see What Does The Bible Really Say About Your Soul?]; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

^14:3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. ^14:4 For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. ^14:5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

^14:6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. ^14:7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. ^14:8 And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. ^14:9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her. ^14:10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. ^14:11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. ^14:12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus." (Matthew 14:1-12 KJV)

The Messiah of course knew what was coming. The greatest enemy of Truth is arrogance (it was in fact arrogance that transformed Lucifer into Satan; see Is Satan An Atheist?) - and Herod was full of it.

"^8:15 And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod." (Mark 8:15 KJV)

The "trial" of the Messiah was conducted by Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee (where Jesus was a resident), and Pontius Pilate, the procurator of Judea (where Jesus was arrested).

"^23:1 And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. ^23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.

^23:3 And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews?

And he answered him and said, Thou sayest it.

^23:4 Then said Pilate to the chief priests and to the people, I find no fault in this man.

^23:5 And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place.

^23:6 When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. ^23:7 And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

^23:8 And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. ^23:9 Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. ^23:10 And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. ^23:11 And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. ^23:12 And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves." (Luke 23:1-12 KJV)

Later, the apostle Peter explained the sort of anti-Truth spirit that has infested not only Herod Antipas, but all the world (see What And Where Is Babylon Today?).

"^4:23 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. ^4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: ^4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said,

Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? ^4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

^4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, ^4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. ^4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, ^4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

^4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." (Acts 4:23-31 KJV)

Fact Finder: What later happened to Herod Antipas?
See Whatever Happened To Those Romans?

This Day In History, November 30

1016: King Edmund II of England died. He became known as "Ironside" for his defense of England against the invading Danes under Canute (or "Knut"). Canute's forces eventually won however, and made the Danish/Polish Viking Canute the king of England for 20 years, during which the pro-Rome Canute made England into a territory of the so-called Holy Roman Empire (see The Holy Roman Empire).

1215: The Fourth Lateran Council ended. Convened by Pope Innocent III, it made the first official use of the Catholic doctrine of "transubstantiation."

1554: Under Queen Mary (Mary Tudor - "Bloody Mary") Roman Catholicism was restored to England for a short time. Mary had Thomas Cranmer, Hugh Latimer, Nicholas Ridley and nearly 300 other Protestant leaders burned at the stake.

1700: A Swedish force of 8,000 under King Charles XII defeated 50,000 Russians at the Battle of Narva. The Russian loses were 10,000, while Sweden lost 600. Charles died on this date, in 1718, while invading Norway.

1803: Spain turned over its control of the Louisiana Territory to France.

1838: Mexico declared war on France after the French taking of Vera Cruz.

1853: During the Crimean War, the Russia's navy devastated much of the Turkish (i.e. Ottoman) fleet at the battle of Sinope (listen to our Sermon The Ottoman Empire).

1939: Russia invaded Finland with 20 army divisions consisting of nearly 500,000 troops.

1950: U.S. President Harry Truman threatened to again use his atomic bombs (his first two uses of "the bomb" incinerated the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in which over 200,000 civilian men, women and children were killed or horribly burned), this time against North Korea (who thereafter sought to get "the bomb" too, to defend themselves from those who threaten to nuke them).

1983: Radio Shack began selling its Tandy computer (80186 chip).

1988: The United Nations General Assembly censured the United States not providing Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat a diplomatic visa to enter the U.S. for the sole purpose of addressing the UN.

1996: Prince Andrew returned the Stone of Scone (pronounced "scoon") to Scotland on behalf of England after exactly 700 years during a ceremony in the Great Hall of Edinburgh Castle. The 440 pound block of grey sandstone was the coronation seat of Scottish kings until it was carried away as war booty by King Edward I in 1296. It was placed under the coronation chair in Westminster Abbey where it has been involved in all coronations since then.