Agrippa II

Son of Agrippa I. Being only 17 years old at his father’s death, the emperor Claudius sent him to rule over the principality of Chalcis in the slopes of Lebanon until he should come of age. He had been brought up at the court of Rome, and was attached to the Romans. At the age of 21 Claudius gave him the tetrarchies of Trachonitis, Abilene, and other parts of the North East of Palestine. Nero afterward gave him various cities. He is introduced in Acts 25:26,²⁶Of whom I have no certain thing to write unto my lord. Wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and specially before thee, O king Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write. (Acts 25:26) as king Agrippa, before whom Paul made his defense. Paul said of him that he was expert in all customs and questions which were among the Jews. The things concerning Christ’s death had not been done in a corner, and the king knew of them. Paul knew also that he believed the prophets. Agrippa said, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Paul, like a true evangelist, desired that Agrippa and all that heard him should be altogether such as he was, save his bonds. Agrippa had a long reign, and used his influence when the Jews were in rebellion against the Romans, to induce them to submit. While appealing to them at Gamala he was wounded by a stone cast from a sling. He survived the destruction of Jerusalem and died A.D. 100.

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