What Happened to Herod the Tetrarch?

Herod Antipas became Tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea at the death of his father Herod the Great in 4 BC. He reigned until he was deposed by the Romans in AD 39.

Herod Antipas is probably best known for beheading John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1 –12).

He was a weak man with unlimited ambition. His actions brought tragedy to the nation of Israel. Rome finally banished him to Gaul (France) and then to Spain where he died.

He is also known for his interactions with Jesus on at least two occasions.

Luke shows that Herod the Tetrarch determined to kill Jesus as he had John the Baptist. Some Pharisees, who may have been in on the plot, warned Jesus to get out because Herod planned to kill Him (Luke 13:31–32). Jesus seemed not to have been disturbed by this threat. He said,”Go tell that fox, I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.”

The word for “fox” is feminine. Some commentators believe Jesus may have been referring to Herodius, who had also been behind the plot to kill John.

The last time we see Herod Antipas he examined Jesus at the request of Pontius Pilate. Herod hoped to see Jesus perform some sign. Jesus did not dignify this murderer with a sign or an answer to his questions.

“Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked [Jesus]” (Luke 23:11).

Herod Antipas was a weak man who killed John the Baptist at the behest of his wife and desired to see the power of God without giving obedience to Him. Jesus stood before him as the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords.

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One Response

  1. Your “verse of the day”, “Love your enemies” is the verse that God used to bring me back into His Kingdom after I had wandered away for some years in a naive search for something more “progressive.” I realized at that time that Jesus was/is the most progressive Spirit on our planet. It is also the verse/teaching that evoked the conversion of Mosab Hussein Yousef, the Muslim son of the co-founder of Hamas, the terrorist group. His conversion, as you might imagine, was extremely costly to him from the worldly standpoint; he became an “apostate”–worse than an infidel. He wrote about his experiences and conversion in a very important book, “Son Of Hamas.” I wish that this teaching of Christ could be posted on every billboard, quoted in every publication and aired on every social media in the world. I wish that every parent would teach it to every child on earth. I see this simple, profound statement of Christ to be the solution to all human conflict, violence and hatred—the only legitimate and authentic solution to “intolerance”. LOVE YOUR ENEMIES! What a revolutionary, radical, amazing and wonderful idea! Thank you Jesus. Thank you so much!

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