Who is…
Antipas

This is the name of 2 biblical men—one a murderous king, the other a Christian martyr.

  1. Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great by his Samaritan wife Malthace

    He was tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea during the whole period of our Lord’s life on Earth (Luke 23:7). He was a frivolous and vain man, and was guilty of many infamous crimes (Mark 8:15; Luke 3:19; 13:31-32).

    He beheaded John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1-12) at the instigation of Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod Philip I, whom he had married. Pilate sent Christ to him when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover (Luke 23:7).

    He asked him some idle questions, and after having him mocked, sent him back again to Pilate.

    The wife of Chuza, his house-steward, was one of our Lord’s disciples (Luke 8:3).

  2. Antipas, a “faithful witness” and Christian martyr

    ‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith even in the days of Antipas, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. —Rev. 2:13

    Nothing more is known for certain about Antipas.

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Article Version: September 27, 2024