Herod Agrippa II’s story is told in Acts 25:13-26:32
Herod Agrippa II – A King Who Heard Paul’s Testimony
In the New Testament, we meet many leaders and rulers. One of them is Herod Agrippa II. He may not be as well-known as others, but he played an important role in the story of the Apostle Paul. His life reminds us that hearing the truth is just the beginning — what matters is how we respond to it.
Who Was Herod Agrippa II?
Herod Agrippa II was part of the well-known Herod family. His father was Herod Agrippa I, and his great-grandfather was Herod the Great, the king who ruled when Jesus was born. Agrippa II was given control over some areas in the northern part of Israel by the Roman Empire. Even though he didn’t rule all of Israel, he still had influence and was respected.
Herod Agrippa II in the New Testament
We read about Herod Agrippa II in the Book of Acts, chapters 25 and 26. At this time, the Apostle Paul had been arrested for preaching about Jesus. He was being held in Caesarea, a city on the coast of Israel, under Roman guard. When a new governor named Festus took charge, Agrippa came to visit him.
During this visit, Festus asked Agrippa to help with Paul’s case. So Agrippa, along with his sister Bernice, agreed to hear Paul’s side of the story.
Paul’s Bold Testimony
When Paul stood before Agrippa, he didn’t try to defend himself with clever arguments. Instead, he shared the story of how he met Jesus on the road to Damascus. He explained how his life changed and how God had called him to tell others about Jesus.
Paul was clear and passionate. He didn’t shy away from speaking the truth, even though he was facing powerful people who could decide his fate.
Agrippa’s Surprising Response
After listening to Paul, Agrippa said something very interesting:
“Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
(Acts 26:28)
Agrippa didn’t argue with Paul. In fact, he seemed moved by what he heard. But he didn’t make a decision to believe in Jesus. He listened, thought about it, and then walked away. He also told Festus that Paul hadn’t done anything wrong and could have been set free if he hadn’t appealed to Caesar.
Lessons from Agrippa’s Story
Agrippa’s story teaches us a few important things:
- Hearing about Jesus is important, but it’s not enough. Agrippa heard the truth, but he didn’t act on it.
- God gives us chances to believe. Like Agrippa, we may hear the message of Jesus many times. What matters is what we do with it.
- We shouldn’t wait to respond. Agrippa had a moment of opportunity, but he let it pass. We never know how many chances we’ll get.
Final Thoughts
Herod Agrippa II had the chance to meet Paul and hear the message of Jesus firsthand. That’s something few people can say. But instead of believing, he stayed on the sidelines.
His story reminds us that when we hear the truth, we have a choice. Will we walk away like Agrippa, or will we respond with faith? The decision is ours to make.