Herod Agrippa II
The Last Herodian King
Herod Agrippa II was the last king of the Herodian dynasty and ruled over parts of northern Israel. He is best known from the Bible for hearing the apostle Paul's defense speech together with his sister Berenice, and uttering the famous phrase that Paul had almost persuaded him to become a Christian.
Family
Key events
Festus Presents Paul's Case
The new governor Festus presented Paul's case to King Agrippa and Berenice, who had come to greet him in Caesarea.
13Some days later King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea to pay their respects to Festus.
Ἡμερῶν δὲ διαγενομένων τινῶν Ἀγρίππας ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ Βερνίκη κατήντησαν εἰς Καισάρειαν ἀσπασάμενοι τὸν Φῆστον.
14Since they were staying there several days, Festus laid Paul's case before the king. "There is a man here," he said, "whom Felix left behind as a prisoner.
ὡς δὲ πλείους ἡμέρας ⸀διέτριβον ἐκεῖ, ὁ Φῆστος τῷ βασιλεῖ ἀνέθετο τὰ κατὰ τὸν Παῦλον λέγων· Ἀνήρ τίς ἐστιν καταλελειμμένος ὑπὸ Φήλικος δέσμιος,
15When I was in Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and asked for a sentence of condemnation.
περὶ οὗ γενομένου μου εἰς Ἱεροσόλυμα ἐνεφάνισαν οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τῶν Ἰουδαίων, αἰτούμενοι κατʼ αὐτοῦ ⸀καταδίκην·
16I told them it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before the accused has met his accusers face to face and has had a chance to defend himself against the charge.
πρὸς οὓς ἀπεκρίθην ὅτι οὐκ ἔστιν ἔθος Ῥωμαίοις χαρίζεσθαί τινα ⸀ἄνθρωπον πρὶν ἢ ὁ κατηγορούμενος κατὰ πρόσωπον ἔχοι τοὺς κατηγόρους τόπον τε ἀπολογίας λάβοι περὶ τοῦ ἐγκλήματος.
17So when they had assembled here, I did not delay. The very next day I took my seat on the judgment bench and ordered the man brought in.
συνελθόντων ⸀οὖν ἐνθάδε ἀναβολὴν μηδεμίαν ποιησάμενος τῇ ἑξῆς καθίσας ἐπὶ τοῦ βήματος ἐκέλευσα ἀχθῆναι τὸν ἄνδρα·
18When his accusers stood up, they brought no charge of the crimes I had suspected.
περὶ οὗ σταθέντες οἱ κατήγοροι οὐδεμίαν αἰτίαν ⸀ἔφερον ὧν ⸂ἐγὼ ὑπενόουν⸃ ⸀πονηρῶν,
19Instead, they had certain disputes with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died, who Paul kept insisting was alive.
ζητήματα δέ τινα περὶ τῆς ἰδίας δεισιδαιμονίας εἶχον πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ περί τινος Ἰησοῦ τεθνηκότος, ὃν ἔφασκεν ὁ Παῦλος ζῆν.
20Being at a loss how to investigate such matters, I asked whether he was willing to go to Jerusalem and be tried there on these charges.
ἀπορούμενος δὲ ἐγὼ τὴν περὶ ⸀τούτων ζήτησιν ἔλεγον εἰ βούλοιτο πορεύεσθαι εἰς ⸀Ἱεροσόλυμα κἀκεῖ κρίνεσθαι περὶ τούτων.
21But when Paul appealed to be held for the decision of His Majesty the Emperor, I ordered him kept in custody until I could send him to Caesar."
τοῦ δὲ Παύλου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τηρηθῆναι αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν τοῦ Σεβαστοῦ διάγνωσιν, ἐκέλευσα τηρεῖσθαι αὐτὸν ἕως οὗ ⸀ἀναπέμψω αὐτὸν πρὸς Καίσαρα.
22Then Agrippa said to Festus, "I would like to hear this man myself." "Tomorrow," he answered, "you will hear him."
Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν ⸀Φῆστον· Ἐβουλόμην καὶ αὐτὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου ἀκοῦσαι. ⸀Αὔριον, φησίν, ἀκούσῃ αὐτοῦ.
Paul Brought Before Agrippa
At Agrippa's request, Paul was brought before the king and the entire assembly to explain his case.
23So the next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience hall along with the commanders and the prominent men of the city. At the order of Festus, Paul was brought in.
Τῇ οὖν ἐπαύριον ἐλθόντος τοῦ Ἀγρίππα καὶ τῆς Βερνίκης μετὰ πολλῆς φαντασίας καὶ εἰσελθόντων εἰς τὸ ἀκροατήριον σύν ⸀τε χιλιάρχοις καὶ ἀνδράσιν τοῖς κατʼ ⸀ἐξοχὴν τῆς πόλεως καὶ κελεύσαντος τοῦ Φήστου ἤχθη ὁ Παῦλος.
24Festus said: "King Agrippa, and all of you present with us, you see this man. The whole Jewish community petitioned me about him, both in Jerusalem and here, shouting that he ought not to live any longer.
καί φησιν ὁ Φῆστος· Ἀγρίππα βασιλεῦ καὶ πάντες οἱ συμπαρόντες ἡμῖν ἄνδρες, θεωρεῖτε τοῦτον περὶ οὗ ⸀ἅπαν τὸ πλῆθος τῶν Ἰουδαίων ⸀ἐνέτυχόν μοι ἔν τε Ἱεροσολύμοις καὶ ἐνθάδε, ⸀βοῶντες μὴ δεῖν ⸂αὐτὸν ζῆν⸃ μηκέτι.
25But I found that he had done nothing deserving death, and since he himself has appealed to His Majesty the Emperor, I decided to send him.
ἐγὼ δὲ ⸀κατελαβόμην μηδὲν ἄξιον ⸂αὐτὸν θανάτου⸃ πεπραχέναι, ⸀αὐτοῦ δὲ τούτου ἐπικαλεσαμένου τὸν Σεβαστὸν ἔκρινα ⸀πέμπειν.
26But I have nothing definite to write to my sovereign about him. So I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that after this examination I may have something to write.
περὶ οὗ ἀσφαλές τι γράψαι τῷ κυρίῳ οὐκ ἔχω· διὸ προήγαγον αὐτὸν ἐφʼ ὑμῶν καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ σοῦ, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, ὅπως τῆς ἀνακρίσεως γενομένης σχῶ τί ⸀γράψω·
27For it seems unreasonable to me to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him."
ἄλογον γάρ μοι δοκεῖ πέμποντα δέσμιον μὴ καὶ τὰς κατʼ αὐτοῦ αἰτίας σημᾶναι.
Paul's Defense Speech
Paul made a long defense before Agrippa, telling about his life, his conversion, and his calling to preach to the Gentiles.
1Agrippa said to Paul, "You have permission to speak for yourself." Then Paul stretched out his hand and began his defense:
Ἀγρίππας δὲ πρὸς τὸν Παῦλον ἔφη· Ἐπιτρέπεταί σοι ⸀ὑπὲρ σεαυτοῦ λέγειν. τότε ὁ Παῦλος ⸂ἐκτείνας τὴν χεῖρα ἀπελογεῖτο⸃·
2"King Agrippa, I count myself fortunate that today I am to stand before you and make my defense concerning all the charges the Jews bring against me,
Περὶ πάντων ὧν ἐγκαλοῦμαι ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, ἥγημαι ἐμαυτὸν μακάριον ἐπὶ σοῦ μέλλων ⸂σήμερον ἀπολογεῖσθαι⸃,
3especially since you are so well acquainted with all the customs and controversies of the Jews. I ask you, therefore, to hear me patiently.
μάλιστα γνώστην ὄντα σε πάντων τῶν κατὰ Ἰουδαίους ⸀ἐθῶν τε καὶ ζητημάτων· διὸ ⸀δέομαι μακροθύμως ἀκοῦσαί μου.
4All the Jews know the way I have lived from my youth, from the very beginning, both among my own people and in Jerusalem.
Τὴν μὲν οὖν βίωσίν μου ⸀τὴν ἐκ νεότητος τὴν ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς γενομένην ἐν τῷ ἔθνει μου ἔν ⸀τε Ἱεροσολύμοις ἴσασι ⸀πάντες Ἰουδαῖοι,
5They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I lived as a Pharisee, according to the strictest party of our religion.
προγινώσκοντές με ἄνωθεν, ἐὰν θέλωσι μαρτυρεῖν, ὅτι κατὰ τὴν ἀκριβεστάτην αἵρεσιν τῆς ἡμετέρας θρησκείας ἔζησα Φαρισαῖος.
6And now I stand on trial because of my hope in the promise God made to our fathers—
καὶ νῦν ἐπʼ ἐλπίδι τῆς ⸀εἰς τοὺς πατέρας ⸀ἡμῶν ἐπαγγελίας γενομένης ὑπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἕστηκα κρινόμενος,
7the promise our twelve tribes hope to attain as they worship earnestly night and day. It is for this hope, O king, that I am accused by the Jews.
εἰς ἣν τὸ δωδεκάφυλον ἡμῶν ἐν ἐκτενείᾳ νύκτα καὶ ἡμέραν λατρεῦον ἐλπίζει καταντῆσαι· περὶ ἧς ἐλπίδος ἐγκαλοῦμαι ⸂ὑπὸ Ἰουδαίων, βασιλεῦ⸃·
8Why should any of you think it incredible that God raises the dead?
τί ἄπιστον κρίνεται παρʼ ὑμῖν εἰ ὁ θεὸς νεκροὺς ἐγείρει;
9I myself was convinced that I ought to do everything possible against the name of Jesus of Nazareth,
Ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἔδοξα ἐμαυτῷ πρὸς τὸ ὄνομα Ἰησοῦ τοῦ Ναζωραίου δεῖν πολλὰ ἐναντία πρᾶξαι·
10and that is what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I locked up many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death I cast my vote against them.
ὃ καὶ ἐποίησα ἐν Ἱεροσολύμοις, καὶ πολλούς ⸀τε τῶν ἁγίων ἐγὼ ⸀ἐν φυλακαῖς κατέκλεισα τὴν παρὰ τῶν ἀρχιερέων ἐξουσίαν λαβών, ἀναιρουμένων τε αὐτῶν κατήνεγκα ψῆφον,
11Again and again I punished them in all the synagogues and tried to force them to blaspheme. In my raging fury against them I even pursued them to cities abroad.
καὶ κατὰ πάσας τὰς συναγωγὰς πολλάκις τιμωρῶν αὐτοὺς ἠνάγκαζον βλασφημεῖν, περισσῶς τε ἐμμαινόμενος αὐτοῖς ἐδίωκον ἕως καὶ εἰς τὰς ἔξω πόλεις.
12On one such journey I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests.
Ἐν ⸀οἷς πορευόμενος εἰς τὴν Δαμασκὸν μετʼ ἐξουσίας καὶ ἐπιτροπῆς ⸀τῆς τῶν ἀρχιερέων
13About midday, O king, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions.
ἡμέρας μέσης κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν εἶδον, βασιλεῦ, οὐρανόθεν ὑπὲρ τὴν λαμπρότητα τοῦ ἡλίου περιλάμψαν με φῶς καὶ τοὺς σὺν ἐμοὶ πορευομένους·
14It is hard for you to kick against the goads." [Footnote: A goad was a sharp-pointed stick used to drive oxen; the saying pictures the futility of resisting.]
πάντων ⸀τε καταπεσόντων ἡμῶν εἰς τὴν γῆν ἤκουσα φωνὴν ⸀λέγουσαν πρός ⸀με τῇ Ἑβραΐδι διαλέκτῳ· Σαοὺλ Σαούλ, τί με διώκεις; σκληρόν σοι πρὸς κέντρα λακτίζειν.
15I asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' And the Lord said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.
ἐγὼ δὲ εἶπα· Τίς εἶ, κύριε; ὁ δὲ ⸀κύριος εἶπεν· Ἐγώ εἰμι Ἰησοῦς ὃν σὺ διώκεις·
16But get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you as a servant and witness of what you have seen of me and of what I will show you.
ἀλλὰ ἀνάστηθι καὶ στῆθι ἐπὶ τοὺς πόδας σου· εἰς τοῦτο γὰρ ὤφθην σοι, προχειρίσασθαί σε ὑπηρέτην καὶ μάρτυρα ὧν τε εἶδές ⸀με ὧν τε ὀφθήσομαί σοι,
17I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them
ἐξαιρούμενός σε ἐκ τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ ⸀ἐκ τῶν ἐθνῶν, εἰς οὓς ἐγὼ ⸂ἀποστέλλω σε⸃
18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, and receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those sanctified by faith in me.'
ἀνοῖξαι ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτῶν, τοῦ ⸀ἐπιστρέψαι ἀπὸ σκότους εἰς φῶς καὶ τῆς ἐξουσίας τοῦ Σατανᾶ ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτοὺς ἄφεσιν ἁμαρτιῶν καὶ κλῆρον ἐν τοῖς ἡγιασμένοις πίστει τῇ εἰς ἐμέ.
19And so, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.
Ὅθεν, βασιλεῦ Ἀγρίππα, οὐκ ἐγενόμην ἀπειθὴς τῇ οὐρανίῳ ὀπτασίᾳ,
20Instead, I preached first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout the whole region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
ἀλλὰ τοῖς ἐν Δαμασκῷ πρῶτόν ⸀τε καὶ Ἱεροσολύμοις, ⸀πᾶσάν τε τὴν χώραν τῆς Ἰουδαίας, καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν ⸀ἀπήγγελλον μετανοεῖν καὶ ἐπιστρέφειν ἐπὶ τὸν θεόν, ἄξια τῆς μετανοίας ἔργα πράσσοντας.
21That is why the Jews seized me in the temple and tried to kill me.
ἕνεκα τούτων ⸂με Ἰουδαῖοι⸃ ⸀συλλαβόμενοι ἐν τῷ ἱερῷ ἐπειρῶντο διαχειρίσασθαι.
22But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here testifying to small and great alike, saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:
ἐπικουρίας οὖν τυχὼν τῆς ⸀ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ ἄχρι τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης ἕστηκα μαρτυρόμενος μικρῷ τε καὶ μεγάλῳ, οὐδὲν ἐκτὸς λέγων ὧν τε οἱ προφῆται ἐλάλησαν μελλόντων γίνεσθαι καὶ Μωϋσῆς,
23that the Christ must suffer, and that as the first to rise from the dead he would proclaim light both to the people of Israel and to the Gentiles."
εἰ παθητὸς ὁ χριστός, εἰ πρῶτος ἐξ ἀναστάσεως νεκρῶν φῶς μέλλει καταγγέλλειν τῷ ⸀τε λαῷ καὶ τοῖς ἔθνεσιν.
Agrippa's famous reply
After Paul's speech, Agrippa spoke these well-known words: 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.' Paul replied that he wished all who heard him might become like him.
28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think you can make me a Christian in such a short time?"
ὁ δὲ Ἀγρίππας πρὸς τὸν ⸀Παῦλον· Ἐν ὀλίγῳ με πείθεις Χριστιανὸν ⸀ποιῆσαι.
29Paul answered, "Short time or long, I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today might become what I am—except for these chains."
ὁ δὲ ⸀Παῦλος· Εὐξαίμην ἂν τῷ θεῷ καὶ ἐν ὀλίγῳ καὶ ἐν ⸀μεγάλῳ οὐ μόνον σὲ ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντας τοὺς ἀκούοντάς μου σήμερον γενέσθαι τοιούτους ὁποῖος καὶ ἐγώ εἰμι παρεκτὸς τῶν δεσμῶν τούτων.
Agrippa declares Paul innocent
After the conversation, Agrippa and Festus withdrew and concluded that Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment, but because he had appealed to Caesar, he must be sent to Rome.
30The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those seated with them.
⸀Ἀνέστη ⸀τε ὁ βασιλεὺς καὶ ὁ ἡγεμὼν ἥ τε Βερνίκη καὶ οἱ συγκαθήμενοι αὐτοῖς,
31As they withdrew, they said to one another, "This man has done nothing deserving death or imprisonment."
καὶ ἀναχωρήσαντες ἐλάλουν πρὸς ἀλλήλους λέγοντες ὅτι Οὐδὲν θανάτου ⸂ἢ δεσμῶν ἄξιον⸃ ⸀τι πράσσει ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος.
32And Agrippa said to Festus, "This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
Ἀγρίππας δὲ τῷ Φήστῳ ἔφη· Ἀπολελύσθαι ἐδύνατο ὁ ἄνθρωπος οὗτος εἰ μὴ ἐπεκέκλητο Καίσαρα.