Herod Antipas’s story is told in Matthew 14:1-12; Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9; 23:6-12
Herod Antipas: The Ruler Who Feared the Truth
In the New Testament, we meet many different people—some followed Jesus, others rejected Him. One man stands out as a powerful ruler who had the chance to listen to the truth but let fear and pride guide his choices. His name was Herod Antipas.
Let’s take a look at who he was, what he did, and what we can learn from his story.
Who Was Herod Antipas?
Herod Antipas was a ruler during the time of Jesus. He was one of the sons of Herod the Great (the king who tried to kill baby Jesus). After Herod the Great died, his kingdom was divided, and Herod Antipas became the ruler of Galilee and Perea—areas where Jesus and John the Baptist preached.
Though he had power, Herod Antipas wasn’t really a king. He was a tetrarch, which means he ruled only part of the land under the control of the Roman Empire. Still, he had influence and authority—and with that came big decisions.
Herod and John the Baptist
One of the most important parts of Herod’s story involves John the Baptist. John was a prophet who boldly spoke the truth, even to powerful people. He told Herod that it was wrong to marry Herodias, who had been the wife of Herod’s brother.
Herod didn’t like being corrected, but he didn’t want to hurt John either. In fact, the Bible says he feared John and knew he was a good man. He often listened to him, even if it made him uncomfortable (Mark 6:20).
But Herodias, Herod’s wife, was furious. She wanted John dead. One day, her daughter danced for Herod at a party, and he was so pleased that he promised to give her anything she wanted. At her mother’s request, the girl asked for John the Baptist’s head.
Herod was upset. He didn’t want to do it, but because he had made a public promise, he gave in. John was executed. Herod made a fearful and tragic choice, valuing his pride over what was right.
Herod and Jesus
Later, when Jesus was arrested and put on trial, He was sent to Herod Antipas because He had been preaching in Herod’s region (Luke 23:6–12). Herod was curious. He had heard stories about Jesus and wanted to see a miracle.
But Jesus didn’t say a word.
Herod mocked Him, dressed Him in fancy clothes to make fun of Him, and sent Him back to the Roman governor, Pilate. Even though he didn’t find anything wrong with Jesus, Herod still chose mockery over mercy.
Lessons from Herod Antipas
Herod Antipas had power, but he didn’t use it well. His story offers some important lessons for us today:
- Power without wisdom leads to bad choices. Herod had the ability to stand up for what was right but chose not to.
- Pride can be dangerous. He cared more about looking good in front of others than doing the right thing.
- Listening to the truth is not the same as following it. Herod heard John’s message and saw Jesus—but he never let their words change his heart.
- Don’t ignore your conscience. Herod felt guilt and fear, but he silenced those feelings instead of doing something about them.
Conclusion
Herod Antipas was close to the truth, but fear and pride kept him from acting on it. He reminds us that being curious about Jesus isn’t enough—we must respond with humility and faith.
In our own lives, we may not be rulers, but we face decisions that test our character. When those moments come, let’s not follow Herod’s example. Instead, let’s choose what is right—even when it’s hard.
Because truth matters. And so does how we respond to it.