Who was King Agrippa in the Bible?

King Agrippa (also known as Herod Agrippa II) was the great-grandson of Herod the Great and the Roman-appointed ruler over parts of Judea. He is best known for hearing the Apostle Paul's legal defense in Caesarea (Acts 25:13-26:32).

Why did Paul appear before Agrippa?

Paul appeared before Agrippa so the Roman governor Festus could get an expert Jewish opinion before sending Paul to Caesar for trial. Agrippa, familiar with Jewish customs, found Paul had done nothing deserving of death or imprisonment (Acts 26:30-32).

What was Agrippa's response to Paul's testimony?

After hearing Paul preach about Jesus and the resurrection, Agrippa famously replied, 'In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?' (Acts 26:28). He concluded Paul was innocent but had appealed to Caesar, so the case proceeded to Rome.

Agrippa

New TestamentNew TestamentMaleA tetrarch

Tetrarch Agrippa heard Paul's defense and found no grounds for his imprisonment. (Act.25.13-26.32)

Agrippa

Biography

Agrippa, known historically as Herod Agrippa II, was the son of Herod Agrippa I and great-grandson of Herod the Great. He served as a client king under Roman authority, eventually governing territories in the north of Palestine. He appears in Acts 25–26 alongside the Roman governor Festus and his sister Bernice, having come to Caesarea to welcome the new governor. Festus, puzzled by Paul's case, invited Agrippa to hear the apostle, hoping to formulate a credible charge for sending Paul to Caesar. Paul delivered his full defense before Agrippa, recounting his conversion on the Damascus road and his mission to the Gentiles. Agrippa's famous response: "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" (Acts 26:28), encapsulates his ambivalent but impressed reaction.

Significance

Agrippa's audience with Paul represents one of the most dramatic scenes in Acts, placing the gospel before the highest levels of Roman-Jewish aristocracy. His conclusion, that Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment (Acts 26:31), serves Luke's apologetic purpose of demonstrating that Christianity posed no criminal threat to Roman order. Yet Agrippa also embodies the tragedy of those who stand on the threshold of faith without crossing it. Paul's direct appeal: "King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you believe" (Acts 26:27), was an extraordinary moment of pastoral boldness before political power. Agrippa's non-committal reply has become emblematic of the condition of those who are almost persuaded but not fully surrendered to the claims of the gospel.

Verse Appearances (12)

Acts

Acts 25:13 Acts 25:22 Acts 25:23 Acts 25:24 Acts 25:26 Acts 26:1 Acts 26:2 Acts 26:7 Acts 26:19 Acts 26:27 Acts 26:28 Acts 26:32

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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