TETRARCH OF GALILEE AND PEREA, UNDER ROME · NEW TESTAMENT

Herod Antipas. The tetrarch who beheaded John the Baptist and questioned Jesus.

RULEDi

Not given c. 4 BC – AD 39 (dates vary)

SEAT

Not stated

HOUSE

Herod's family 5th of 17 in Rome

SCRIPTURE SAYS

“John the Baptist reproved "Herod the tetrarch" "for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils…”

PROPHETS

John the Baptist

ROME: 17 RULERS HEROD THE GREAT → PORCIUS FESTUS

THE HERODS

Which Herod this is

SUCCESSION

Before and after

WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS

What Scripture says of him

  • John the Baptist reproved "Herod the tetrarch" "for Herodias his brother Philip's wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done", and Herod "shut up John in prison". Luke 3:19–20
  • John had told him, "It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife." Matthew says Herod would have put him to death but "feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet". Mark 6:17–18 Matthew 14:3–5
  • Mark says Herodias wanted John dead, "but she could not: For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy", and "heard him gladly". Mark 6:19–20
  • At his birthday supper the daughter of Herodias danced; he swore to give her whatever she asked, "unto the half of my kingdom". Prompted by her mother she asked for "the head of John the Baptist". "The king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake" he sent and had John beheaded in the prison. Mark 6:21–28 Matthew 14:6–11
  • Hearing of Jesus' works, he said, "It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead." In Luke he is "perplexed": "John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him." Mark 6:14–16 Luke 9:7–9
  • Some Pharisees warned Jesus, "Herod will kill thee." Jesus answered, "Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow". Luke 13:31–32
  • Jesus warned his disciples to "beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod". Mark 8:15
  • At the trial Pilate sent Jesus to Herod, who "was exceeding glad" and "hoped to have seen some miracle done by him". He questioned him "in many words; but he answered him nothing". Herod and his soldiers "set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe", and sent him back. Luke 23:7–11
  • "The same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together." Pilate told the accusers, "No, nor yet Herod" had found anything worthy of death in Jesus. Luke 23:12–15
  • The church in Jerusalem said in prayer that "both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together" against Jesus. Acts 4:27
  • Among those near him: Joanna, "the wife of Chuza Herod's steward", who ministered to Jesus; and Manaen of the church at Antioch, "brought up with Herod the tetrarch". Luke 8:3 Acts 13:1

THE KINGDOM

The places Scripture names

Rome. Only places Scripture names are shown, each where the Atlas puts it.

EVENTS

Wars, works and turning points

UNDATED IN SCRIPTURE

THE NATION

What the nation did

  • He was in Jerusalem at the Passover of Jesus' trial: "who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time". Luke 22:1 Luke 23:7

PROPHETS

Prophets of the reign

  • Jo John the Baptist “It is not lawful for thee to have her.”

ON THE WORLD STAGE

The powers of the day

ROME'S GOVERNOR OF JUDAEA

Pontius Pilate

NABATAEA (ARABIA)

Aretas

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE

OUTSIDE THE BIBLE · YEARS 33–43 OF HIS RULE

His coins

TWO ACCOUNTS

Where the accounts differ

Did Herod himself want John dead?

MATTHEW

MARK

DATES DIFFER

When was it?

SCRIPTURE'S NUMBERS

No years given

None.

SCHÜRER (1890)

c. 4 BC – AD 39[12][16]

Tetrarch from Herod's death in 4 BC until Gaius (Caligula) deposed him, in the summer of AD 39 by Schürer's reckoning; his coins run to the forty-third year of his rule.

In Galilee, perhaps Tiberias

Keim and Volkmar, as reported by Schürer (1890)

They read Mark's guests, the "chief estates of Galilee", as placing the supper in Galilee. Schürer answers that the Gospels do not name the place. Mark 6:21 [14]

At Julias

Wieseler, as reported by Schürer (1890)

Wieseler moved the scene to Julias; Schürer sees no reason for it.[14]

IN SCRIPTURE

Every passage

CHAPTERS · 10

Matthew 14 Mark 6 Mark 8 Luke 3 Luke 8 Luke 9 Luke 13 Luke 23 Acts 4 Acts 13

PASSAGES · 11

Matthew 14:1–13 Mark 6:14–29 Mark 8:15 Luke 3:1 Luke 3:19–20 Luke 8:3 Luke 9:7–9 Luke 13:31–33 Luke 23:6–15 Acts 4:27 Acts 13:1

WHAT SCRIPTURE DOES NOT SAY

  • Scripture never uses the name Antipas; it calls him Herod.
  • The Gospels do not name the place where John was imprisoned and killed.
  • Scripture does not name the daughter of Herodias.
  • Scripture does not record how his rule ended.
  • Scripture does not say who the Herodians were (Matthew 22:16; Mark 3:6; 12:13), or how they were connected with him.
  • Scripture does not say why Pilate and Herod had been at enmity.

IDENTIFICATIONS THIS PAGE RELIES ON

  • From the textThe Gospels and Acts call him "Herod the tetrarch", and Luke "tetrarch of Galilee"; Luke names Philip as his brother. Scripture never uses the name Antipas. Matthew 14:1 Luke 3:1 Luke 3:19 Luke 9:7 Acts 13:1
  • Scholars' viewSchürer (1890) notes that Antipas is the only man called Herod who bore the title of tetrarch (his brother Philip was also a tetrarch, but is never called Herod).[12]
  • From the textThe Herod of Jesus' trial is the same man: Pilate sent Jesus to him on learning that he was a Galilean and "belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction". Acts 4:27 looks back on that day. Luke 23:6–7 Acts 4:27
  • From the textThree verses say only "Herod": Jesus' warning about "the leaven of Herod", Joanna "the wife of Chuza Herod's steward", and the Pharisees' "Herod will kill thee". They are taken as the tetrarch from their setting: Jesus' work in Galilee and on the road, after "Herod was dead" (Matthew 2:19) and before the "Herod the king" of Acts 12. Mark 8:15 Luke 8:3 Luke 13:31 Matthew 2:19 Acts 12:1

SOURCES

Where this page comes from

  • A. B. Bruce, The Expositor's Greek Testament: Luke (1897), note on Luke 19:12–27 (read on Bible Hub).
  • A. C. McGiffert, Notes to Eusebius, Church History (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1) (1890), book 2, chapter 10, notes 7 and 8, pp. 111–112.
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • C. J. Ellicott (ed.), A Bible Commentary for English Readers (c. 1878–1884), note on Luke 19:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 1 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §14, p. 393 and note 3 (Herod made king by the Senate).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 1 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §15, pp. 400–401 (heading 'Herod the Great, B.C. 37–4'; sources).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 1 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §15, pp. 409–410 and note 12 (the temple begun in B.C. 20–19).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 1 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §15, pp. 463–466 and note 165 (the last will, death and date).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17a, pp. 10–16 (Philip, B.C. 4 – A.D. 34).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), Excursus I, pp. 131–133 (the census and Herod's lifetime).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §18, pp. 150–165 and notes (Herod Agrippa I, A.D. 37, 40, 41–44).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17b, pp. 17–20 (Antipas: title, territory, cities).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §19 Supplement, pp. 191–206 and notes (Agrippa II, A.D. 50–100).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17b, pp. 21–28 and notes (Herodias; John the Baptist).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17b, pp. 29–32 (Jesus and Antipas; the chronology).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17b, pp. 32–38 and notes (Aretas; banishment).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), Appendix II, pp. 356–358 (Aretas IV, B.C. 9 – A.D. 40).
  • E. Schürer, A History of the Jewish People in the Time of Jesus Christ, Division I, vol. 2 (tr. J. Macpherson) (1890), §17c, pp. 38–42 and notes (Archelaus, B.C. 4 – A.D. 6).
  • Eusebius, tr. A. C. McGiffert, Church History (Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 2, vol. 1) (1890), 2.10.1–10, pp. 111–112.
  • F. W. Farrar, The Gospel according to St Luke (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1880), note on Luke 19:12 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. A. W. Meyer, Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles (English translation) (1877–1879), note on Acts 23:35 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. A. W. Meyer, Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles (English translation) (1877–1879), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. A. W. Meyer, Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Gospels of Mark and Luke (English translation) (1880), note on Luke 19:12–13 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. A. W. Meyer, Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Gospels of Mark and Luke (English translation) (1880), note on Mark 6:14 (read on Bible Hub).
  • H. D. M. Spence and J. S. Exell (eds.), The Pulpit Commentary (quoting F. W. Farrar, The Life of Christ, 1874) (1880–1897), note on Matt 2:16 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. A. Bengel, Gnomon of the New Testament (Latin 1742; English translation) (1742), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • J. R. Lumby, The Acts of the Apostles (Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges) (1882), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the New Testament (1746–1748), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • John Gill, An Exposition of the New Testament (1746–1748), note on Matt 2:16 (read on Bible Hub).
  • M. R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887), note on Acts 23:35 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Macrobius (Latin text, ed. L. von Jan), Saturnalia (1852), 2.4.11 (our translation of the Latin).
  • Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible (1683–1685), note on Acts 23:35 (read on Bible Hub).
  • R. Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and D. Brown, A Commentary, Critical and Explanatory, on the Whole Bible (1871), note on Acts 26:28 (read on Bible Hub).
  • Suetonius, tr. J. C. Rolfe, The Lives of the Caesars: Titus (1914), Titus 7.1–2.
  • W. M. Ramsay, Was Christ Born at Bethlehem? (1898), pp. 201, 219–221, 245.

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