Bible Figure
Agrippa I
Agrippa I, also called King Herod in Acts 12, was the Herodian ruler who executed James the son of Zebedee, imprisoned Peter, and later died after accepting divine honors. This record overlaps the AVWJ Herod Agrippa entry.
Biography
Herod Agrippa I was a grandson of Herod the Great. Acts 12 describes him persecuting members of the Jerusalem church. He executed James the brother of John and, seeing political advantage, arrested Peter. Peter was miraculously delivered by an angel despite heavy guard. Agrippa later appeared at Caesarea during a dispute with Tyre and Sidon. After he addressed the people in royal attire, they acclaimed him as a god. Acts says he was struck because he did not give glory to God and died. Josephus also preserves an account of Agrippa's fatal illness following public acclamation, providing useful external historical context.
Biblical Significance
Agrippa I embodies the apparent power of rulers who oppose the church and the limits of that power before God. His duplicate AVWJ records should eventually be crosslinked so users encounter one coherent historical profile.