Who was Herod Agrippa I in the Bible?

Herod Agrippa I was a king of Judea and a grandson of Herod the Great. He is known in the New Testament for persecuting the early Christian church to gain favor with Jewish leaders.

What did Herod Agrippa I do to the apostles?

He executed the apostle James, the brother of John, and imprisoned the apostle Peter with the intent to kill him after Passover. Peter was miraculously freed by an angel (Acts 12:1-11).

How did Herod Agrippa I die according to the Bible?

He died a sudden and gruesome death after accepting praise as a god. An angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms, which the Bible presents as divine judgment (Acts 12:21-23).

Herod

New TestamentNew TestamentMaleA tetrarch

Herod Agrippa I was a king who persecuted the early church, killing James and imprisoning Peter. (Act.12.1-23)

Herod

Biography

Herod Agrippa I (c. 10 BC-AD 44) was the grandson of Herod the Great and the last Jewish ruler to govern a united territory approximating the boundaries of his grandfather's kingdom, ruling under Roman patronage. The book of Acts records his aggressive persecution of the Jerusalem church: he executed the apostle James, son of Zebedee, with the sword and imprisoned Peter with the intention of a similar fate (Acts 12:1-4). His apparent success in appeasing Jewish religious leaders emboldened him further. However, his reign was abruptly ended when, while receiving public adulation, he failed to give glory to God and was struck down by an angel, dying of a sudden affliction described as being 'eaten by worms' (Acts 12:23).

Significance

Herod Agrippa I represents the recurring biblical pattern of earthly rulers who exalt themselves against God's people and ultimately meet divine judgment. His execution of James, the first apostolic martyr recorded in Acts, demonstrates that the advance of the gospel is not without profound cost. Yet the narrative of Acts 12 is framed theologically: while Herod slays James and jails Peter, the church prays (Acts 12:5), and God intervenes miraculously. Agrippa's death immediately follows, underscoring the contrast between fragile human power and divine sovereignty. His story reassures persecuted believers across history that no earthly authority can ultimately prevail against God's redemptive purposes.

Authority Records

Wikidata

Verse Appearances (6)

Acts

Acts 12:1 Acts 12:6 Acts 12:11 Acts 12:19 Acts 12:20 Acts 12:21

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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