Bible Dictionary
Agrippa I.
Agrippa I was the Herodian king who persecuted the early church, killed James, imprisoned Peter, and died at Caesarea under divine judgment.
Definition
Agrippa I was the grandson of Herod the Great and the son of Aristobulus and Bernice. Through Roman appointments he eventually ruled the territories of Philip, Lysanias, Antipas, Samaria, and Judea, becoming ruler over the whole of Palestine.
Biblical Usage
Agrippa I persecuted the early Christians, killed James, and imprisoned Peter. He later died at Caesarea, being eaten by worms, under the judgment described in Acts.
Historical Background
The Roman emperor Caligula successively appointed Agrippa to several territories and gave him the title of king. His death occurred in A.D. 44.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
The grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus and Bernice. The Roman emperor Caligula made him governor first of the territories of Philip, then of the tetrarchy of Lysanias, with the title of king (“king Herod”), and finally of that of Antipas, who was banished, and of Samaria and Judea. Thus he became ruler over the whole of Palestine. He was a persecutor of the early Christians. He slew James, and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-4). He died at Caesarea, being “eaten of worms” (Acts 12:23), A.D. 44. (Comp. Josephus, Ant. xix. 8.)