Biblical Profile: Herod Agrippa II

Herod Agrippa II

Herod Agrippa II, son of Herod Agrippa I, succeeded his father as king and ruled in Palestine AD 50–100, eventually controlling approximately the same area as his great-grandfather, Herod the Great. Agrippa II was in control of the Temple treasury and could appoint the high priest. He was not popular among Jews on account of his incestuous relationship with his sister Bernice. The Romans consulted him on religious matters, which is probably why Festus invited him to hear the apostle Paul’s defense at Caesarea (AD 59, 25:13–26:32).

In May AD 66, the Jewish war against the Romans began (Josephus, War 2.14.4). When Agrippa’s attempt to quell the revolt failed, he became a staunch ally of the Romans throughout the entire war (AD 66–70). During this time Nero committed suicide, the new emperor Galba was murdered, and Vespasian became the emperor. After pledging his allegiance to the new emperor, Agrippa associated himself with Titus, Vespasian’s son, who was the general in charge of the war (Tacitus, History 5.81). After the fall of Jerusalem (Aug 6, AD 70), Agrippa was probably present to celebrate the destruction of his own people.

In AD 79 Vespasian died and Titus became emperor. Little is known of Agrippa’s rule after this, except that he wrote to the historian Josephus, praising him for The Jewish War, and he purchased a copy of it (Josephus, Life 65; Against Apion 1.9.47–52).

Although the Talmud implies that Agrippa II had two wives (Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah 27a), Josephus gives no indication that he had any wives or children. He died around AD 100, and his death marks the end of the dynasty of the Herods.

Passages for Further Study

Acts 25:13–26:32