Herod Antipas

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great and brother to Herod Archelaus. His mother was a Samaritan named Malthace. He ruled over Galilee and Perea from 4 BC-39 AD. He inherited his father's political finese. In fact, Jesus referred to him as "that fox" in Luke 13:32.

Like his father, Herod Antipas had a great love for opulent architecture and was responsible for the building of the city of Tiberias in AD 22. He married the daughter of the Nabatean King Aretas IV. He then divorced her in order to marry Herodias, who was the daughter of his late half-brother, Aristobulos. She also had been married earlier to another half-brother, Herod Philip.

John the Baptist spoke out against Herod Antipas for this marriage, and for other things that he had done wrong. Because of his outspokenness, Herodias wanted to have John killed in revenge. Herod Antipas put John in prison and eventually beheaded him, at the request of Herodias. Later, Jesus was sent to Herod Antipas after his arrest by Pontius Pilate.

Jesus refused to answer his questions and Herod mocked Him and sent him back to Pilate (Luke 23:7-12). Later, Herod Antipas was accused by his rival, Herod Agrippa I, of plotting against Rome. In 39 AD, he was banished to Lyons in Gaul. Herodias went with him.

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