Who is…
Herod Antipas

also known as: Herod

Herod Antipas (also known simply as Herod in many New Testament passages) was a 1st-century ruler in the Herodian dynasty, best known historically and biblically as the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea during the time of Jesus' ministry.

He ruled as a Roman client prince from approximately 4 BC (following the death of his father, Herod the Great) until his deposition in 39 AD. His father the king is infamous for the massacre of the innocents in Matthew 2.

His mother is Malthace the Samaritan (Matthew 14:1; Luke 3:1, 19; 9:7; Acts 13:1).

He was educated in Rome alongside his brothers, a common practice to ensure loyalty to Rome.

Antipas is a full brother of Herod Archelaus and a half-brother to several others, including Herod Philip (the tetrarch of northern territories). After Herod the Great’s death, the kingdom was divided among his sons under Roman approval by Emperor Augustus.

Antipas’ official title was tetrarch (“ruler of a fourth part”), though the Gospel of Mark loosely calls him “king” (Mark 6:14), reflecting popular or informal usage.

Antipas governed for about 43 years, a relatively long and stable period compared to some contemporaries. He was known for ambitious building projects, emulating his father's style:

He founded and developed Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee (around 17–20 CE), naming it after Emperor Tiberius. It became his capital.

The city was built partly over a Jewish cemetery, causing significant religious offense—pious Jews avoided it for years, and it was populated more by Gentiles.

He also rebuilt or enhanced Sepphoris (near Nazareth), turning it into a Hellenistic-style city.

He minted bronze coins (relatively few compared to his father), featuring symbols like palm branches, dates, and inscriptions honoring Roman emperors, but avoiding human images to respect Jewish sensitivities to some degree.

His rule blended Hellenistic/Roman influences with gestures toward Jewish observance—he reportedly celebrated festivals like Passover and Sukkot in Jerusalem—but many Jews viewed him as insufficiently pious and overly aligned with Rome.

Biblical Significance

He ordered the execution of John the Baptist (Matthew 14:1–12; Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9). John publicly condemned Antipas for marrying Herodias, his half-brother Herod Philip's wife (and his own niece/step-niece through family intermarriages). At a birthday banquet, Herodias’s daughter Salome danced seductively, prompting Herod to promise her anything; prompted by her mother, she requested John's head on a platter. Josephus confirms this account, adding political dimensions (e.g., John's influence threatened Antipas's authority).

Jesus Christ referred to him contemptuously as “that fox” (Luke 13:32), likely implying cunning, destructiveness, or insignificance (foxes symbolized sly but unclean animals in Jewish thought).

During Jesus' trial, Pontius Pilate (hearing Jesus was Galilean) sent him to Antipas, who was in Jerusalem for Passover (Luke 23:6–12). Antipas mocked and ridiculed Jesus but found no guilt and returned him to Pilate. This encounter reportedly made Pilate and Antipas friends.

The “leaven of Herod” (Mark 8:15) may warn against his corrupting influence or hypocrisy.

Downfall

Herod Antipas embodies the complex tensions of Roman client rulers in Judea: balancing imperial loyalty, local Jewish expectations, personal ambition, and family intrigue—ultimately leading to his downfall.

In 39 AD, Herod Agrippa I accused Antipas of treasonous plotting (possibly exaggerated or fabricated). Agrippa is a grandson of Herod the Great, and son of Aristobulus IV. Roman Emperor Caligula then deposed Antipas, exiled him to Gaul (modern France), and gave his territories to Agrippa I. Herodias accompanied him into exile. No reliable sources record his death date or circumstances; he disappears from history after 39 AD (died after 39 AD, exact date unknown).

Relatives

• Father: Herod the Great, founder of the Herodian dynasty, known for his building projects including the Jerusalem temple; had at least 10 wives
• Mother: Malthace, a Samaritan and one of Herod the Great’s later wives
• Wives:
  —Phasaelis, daughter of Aretas IV, king of Nabatea
  —Herodias
• Brothers:
  —Herod Archelaus (full-brother)
  —Philip the Tetrarch (aka Herod Philip, half-brother)
  —Herod II, aka Herod Philip I in some contexts (half-brother)
  —Antipater II (half-brother)
  —Alexander (half-brother; mother: Mariamne I, a Hasmonean princess)
  —Aristobulus IV (half-brother; mother: Mariamne I)
• Sisters:
  —Olympias (full-sister)
  —Salampsio (half-sister; mother: Mariamne I)
  —Cypros (half-sister; mother: Mariamne I)
• Sons: none known
• Daughters: none known

Archaeology Evidence

Coins bearing his name and titles, ruins at Tiberias and Sepphoris, and regional infrastructure confirm his building activity and rule. Antipas’s reign span is well-established. His coins and city foundations provide tangible proof of his existence beyond texts.

The main ancient accounts come from Flavius Josephus (Jewish Antiquities and Jewish War), who portrays him as ambitious but politically clumsy, and the New Testament Gospels, which emphasize his role in key religious events.

More information

• Who is named Antipas in the Bible?
• Who is Herod the Great, father of Herod Antipas? and what did he do?
• Who are the men called Herod in the Bible, the Herodian Dynasty?
• Answers about Ancient Rome in the Bible
• What is Galilee?
• Archaeology and the Bible, abundant evidence for the Bible’s reliability . Discover answers to your questions.