King

Herod Antipas

Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea

4 BC–AD 39

The Feast of Herod — Peter Paul Rubens
Public domainPeter Paul RubensWikimedia Commons →

Biography

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great who ruled Galilee and Perea as a tetrarch under Rome. He is most infamous for the execution of John the Baptist. John had confronted Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip's wife — "It is not lawful for you to have her." Herod wanted to kill John but feared the people who regarded him as a prophet, so he imprisoned him.

At Herod's birthday banquet, Herodias's daughter (named Salome by Josephus) danced and pleased Herod so much that he rashly promised her anything she wanted. Prompted by her mother, she requested John the Baptist's head on a platter. Herod was grieved but feared to break his oath before his guests, and John was executed. Jesus referred to Herod Antipas as "that fox" when warned Herod wanted to kill him.

At the trial of Jesus, Pilate sent him to Herod since Jesus was a Galilean; Herod was delighted, hoped to see a miracle, questioned Jesus at length (Jesus said nothing), and his soldiers mocked Jesus and dressed him in elegant robes before sending him back to Pilate. Herod and Pilate became friends that day.

Herod Antipas in one verse

And he said to them, 'Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course.'

Luke 13:32→

Key Events

1
Imprisoned John the BaptistMatthew 14:3-4→
Imprisoned John for rebuking his marriage to Herodias, his brother's wife; wanted to kill him but feared the people
Read the verse here
Matthew 14:3-4
Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
2
Birthday banquet and Salome's danceMatthew 14:6-8→
Salome danced and pleased Herod; he rashly promised anything she wanted; she requested John the Baptist's head
Read the verse here
Matthew 14:6-8
On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
3
Executed John the BaptistMatthew 14:10→
Sent the order to the prison; John was beheaded and his head brought on a platter to Salome, who gave it to her mother Herodias
Read the verse here
Matthew 14:10
and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
4
Jesus called him 'that fox'Luke 13:32→
When warned Herod wanted to kill him, Jesus replied 'Go and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures'
Read the verse here
Luke 13:32
But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’
5
Mocked Jesus at his trialLuke 23:8-11→
Questioned Jesus extensively; Jesus gave no answer; Herod and his soldiers mocked and dressed Jesus in elegant robes
Read the verse here
Luke 23:8-11
When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.
6
Herod and Pilate became friendsLuke 23:12→
Herod and Pilate had been enemies but became friends that day through their shared treatment of Jesus
Read the verse here
Luke 23:12
That day Herod and Pilate became friends; before this time they had been enemies.

Spiritual Significance

Herod Antipas represents the type of person who is fascinated by true religion but refuses its demands. He heard John gladly, was perplexed and disturbed by his message, and wanted to see Jesus do a miracle — yet he executed one prophet and mocked the other. Religious curiosity without surrender is its own form of rejection.

Character Profile

Strengths: Political survival, maintained power in a complex Roman political environment
Weaknesses: Moral cowardice (oath kept to impress guests at the cost of a prophet's head), adultery, murder of John the Baptist, mockery of Jesus, ruled by his wife Herodias's ambitions
Lessons: Religious fascination without repentance leads to the worst outcomes. Herod Antipas found John interesting, wanted to see Jesus's miracles, yet executed one and mocked the other. Curious about God while refusing to obey Him is not neutral — it is a form of rejection that ends in hardness.

Related Characters

Herod the GreatFatherRome's client king of Judea (37–4 BC); rebuilder of the Second Temple; the king who received the Magi and sla…John the BaptistProphet he imprisoned and executed JesusTeacher and prisoner he mocked at his trial

Also named, no page yet:Herodias — Wife whose marriage John condemned; Salome — Step-daughter whose dance led to John's execution; Pilate — Roman governor who sent Jesus to him; became his friend

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