Herod Antipas

Herod Antipas is a son of Herod the Great. After the death of his father, he is given control over Galilee and Perea, from 4 BC to AD 39. Herod Antipas has John the Baptist beheaded. According to Luke’s Gospel, he is also involved in sentencing Jesus to death.

After the death of Herod the Great in 4 BC, his kingdom is divided among three of his sons: Archelaus, Philip and Herod Antipas. The Romans appoint Herod Antipas as tetrarch of Galilee in the north and Perea on the opposite side of the River Jordan.
Herod Antipas is the most skilful ruler of the three brothers. Just as his father before him, Herod leaves various large building projects as a legacy. His most important project is building a new capital city on Lake Galilee. He names this city “Tiberias”, after the Roman emperor in power at the time, Tiberius. This building project is not only large, but also controversial, for Tiberias is built on a former burial ground and many Jews refuse to live there.

According to the New Testament, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist beheaded because John told him he should not have married Herodias, his half-brother Philip’s wife (Matthew 14:1-6; Mark 6:14-22; Luke 9:7-9). Flavius Josephus also mentioned the conflict with John the Baptist, but primarily cites fear of political unrest as the reason for executing the prophet.
According to Luke 23:7-15, Herod Antipas is also involved in the execution of Jesus. Jesus was from Galilee, which fell under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. For this reason, Pilate sends Jesus to Herod for sentencing. Herod is delighted to meet Jesus, because he has heard much about him and his miracles, but when Jesus does not respond to his questions, Herod sends him back to Pilate, leaving the verdict up to him.

Herod Antipas is in power until AD 39, when he is accused of conspiring against the Roman Emperor Caligula, by his nephew Herod Agrippa I. The emperor sends Herod Antipas to exile in Gaul.