Herod Antipas: Biography and Significance Concerning the New Testament

Born in 20 BCE, Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and his wife Malthace of Samaria. Upon his father’s death in 4 BCE, Herod Antipas became Tetrarch ("ruler of one quarter") of Galilee and Peraea (eastern bank of Jordan), according to his father’s decree, which he ruled until 39 CE. This was in accordance with his father’s will, in which he ordered Israel to be divided into four parts, which would be ruled by his four sons. In addition to Antipas’ rule of Galilee and Peraea, Herod’s son Philip was given jurisidction over Gaulanitis (Golan Heights), Batanaea (southern Syria), and Auranitis (Hauran); while Archelaus was deemed as king of the Jews and given rule over the majority of Herod's mini-empire. The Roman Emperor Augustus confirmed Herod the Great’s wishes by placing them into law.

Herod Antipas’ first task as Tetrarch was to restore order in his kingdom. Stability declined at the time of his father’s death, as this event sparked the rebellion of the Jewish Feast of Pentecost (Shavuot).

One of Herod’s most important acheivements was his establishment of Tiberius, located on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, which he made his new capital in 17 CE, in honor of the emperor Tiberius. While Educated in Rome, Herod Antipas was a great builder like his father. While at first Jewish people refused to live in the city because it was built on top of an old Jewish graveyard, eventually the city grew to become an important center of education.

Herod Antipas and the New Testament

Herod Antipas ordered the execution of John the Baptist, he criticized Herod’s marriage to his brother’s sister, Herodias, a marriage which John deemed adulterous. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded after his daughter Salome, at the request of her mother, asked for his head: "He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother" (Matthew 14:10-11).

In addition, Herod Antipas is referred to in the New Testament with regard to the crucifixion of Jesus. When Pilate asked Jesus about his citizenship and Jesus replied that he was Galilean, Pilate sent him to Herod. Herod was pleased to see Jesus because of the many miracles attributed to him. However, when Herod asked Jesus to perform a miracle before him, Jesus refused and did not answer Herod’s questions: "So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer" (Luke 23: 10-11). Herod subsequently mocked Jesus and returned him to Pilate, creating an alliance between the two, who had previously regarded each other as adversaries.

It is important to note that in the non-canonical account of the Gospel of Peter, it is Herod, not Pilate, who orders the execution of Jesus.