Daily Archives: November 7, 2019

HEROD AGRIPPA I

POSERS

For good or evil, families have lasting and powerful influence on their children. Traits and qualities are passed on to the next generation, and often the mistakes and sins of the parents are repeated by the children.  Four generations of the Herod family are mentioned in the Bible.  Each leader left his evil mark: Herod the Great murdered Bethlehem’s children; Herod Antipas was involved in Jesus’ trial and John the Baptist’s execution; Herod Agrippa I murdered the apostle James; and Herod Agrippa II was one of Paul’s judges.

Herod Agrippa I related fairly well to his Jewish subjects. Because he had a Jewish grandmother of royal blood (Mariamne), he was grudgingly accepted by the people.  Although as a youth he had been temporarily imprisoned by the emperor Tiberias, he was now trusted by Rome and got on well with the emperors Caligula and Claudius.

An unexpected opportunity for Herod to gain new favour with the Jews was created by the Christian movement. Gentiles began to be accepted into the Church in large numbers.  Many Jews had been tolerating this new movement as a sect within Judaism, but its rapid growth alarmed them.  Persecution of Christians was revived, and even the apostles were not spared.  James was killed, and Peter was thrown into prison.

But soon, Herod made a fatal error. During a visit to Caesarea, the people called him a god, and he accepted their praise.  Herod was immediately struck with a painful disease, and he died within a week.

Like his grandfather, uncle, and son after him, Herod Agrippa I came close to the truth but missed it. Because religion was important only as an aspect of politics, he had no reverence and no qualms about taking praise that only God [Wall] should receive.  His mistake is a common one.  Whenever we are proud of our own abilities and accomplishments, not recognising them as gifts from God [Wall], we repeat Herod’s sin.

 

Strengths and accomplishments:

  • Capable administrator and negotiator
  • Managed to maintain good relations with the Jews in his region and with Rome

Weaknesses and mistakes:

  • Arranged the murder of the apostle James
  • Imprisoned Peter with plans to execute him
  • Allowed the people to praise him as a god

Lessons from his life:

  • Those who set themselves against God [Wall] are doomed to ultimate failure
  • There is greater danger in accepting praise that only God [Wall] deserves
  • Family traits can influence children towards great good or great evil

Vital statistics:

  • Where: Jerusalem
  • Occupation: Roman-appointed king of the Jews
  • Relatives: Grandfather: Herod the Great. Father: Aristobulus.  Uncle: Herod Antipas.  Sister: Herodias.  Wife: Cypros.  Son: Herod Agrippa II.  Daughters: Bernice, Mariamne, Drusilla
  • Contemporaries: Emperors Tiberias, Caligula, and Claudius. James, Peter, the apostles.

Key verse: “Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God [Wall], an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died” (Acts 12.23).

Herod Agrippa I’s story is told in Acts 12.1-23.

 

SWORD

BIBLES THUMBS

What Jesus’ sword represents:

In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance. – Revelations 1.16

The sword in Jesus’ mouth symbolises the power and force of his message. His words of judgment are as sharp as swords (Isaiah 49.2; Hebrews 4.12).

(..and among the lampstands was someone “like a son of man” dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash round his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, and white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. – Revelation 1.13, 14. This man “like a son of man” is Jesus himself. The title Son of Man occurs many times in the New Testament in reference to Jesus as the Messiah. John recognised Jesus because he lived with him for three years and had seen him both as the Galilean preacher and as the glorified Son of God [Wall] at the transfiguration (Matthew 17.1-8). Here Jesus appears as the mighty Son of Man. His white hair indicates his wisdom and divine nature (see also Daniel 7.9); his blazing eyes symbolise judgment of all evil; the golden sash round his chest reveals him as the high priest who goes into God’s presence to obtain forgiveness of sin for those who have believed in him.)

(When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades. – Revelation 1.17, 18. As the Roman government stepped up its persecution of Christians, John must have wondered if the Church could survive and stand against the opposition. But Jesus appeared in glory and splendour, reassuring John that he and his fellow believers had access to God’s strength to face these trials. If you are facing difficult problems, remember that the power available to John and the early Church is also available to you (see 1 John 4.4).)

 

“To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of him who has the sharp, double-edged sword. – Revelations 2.12

Just as the Romans used their swords for authority and judgment, Jesus’ sharp, double-edged sword represents God’s ultimate authority and judgment. It may also represent God’s future separation of believers from unbelievers. Unbelievers cannot experience the eternal rewards of living in God’s kingdom.

(2.12   The city of Pergamum was built on a hill 1, 000 feet above the surrounding countryside, creating a natural fortress. It was a sophisticated city, a centre of Greek culture and education, with a 200,000-volume library. But it was also the centre of four cults, and it rivalled Ephesus in its worship of idols. The city’s chief god was Asclepius, whose symbol was a serpent, and who was considered the god of healing. People came to Pergamum from all over the world to seek healing from this god.)

(He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the Churches. He who overcomes will not be hurt at all by the second death. – Revelation 2.11. Believers and unbelievers alike experience physical death. All people will be resurrected, but believers will be resurrected to eternal life with God [Wall] while unbelievers will be resurrected to be punished with a second death, eternal separation from God [Wall] (see also 20.14; 21.8, 27; 22.15).)

(I know where you live – where Satan has his throne. Yet you remain true to my name. You did not renounce your faith in me, even in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city – where Satan lives. – Revelation 2.13. As the centre for four idolatrous cults (Zeus, Dionysius, Asclepius, and Athene), Pergamum was called the city “where Satan has his throne”. Surrounded by worship of Satan and the Roman emperor as god, the church at Pergamum refused to renounce their faith, even when Satan’s worshippers martyred one of their members. Standing firm against the strong pressures and temptations of society is never easy, but the alternative is deadly (2.1).)