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The Name Agrippa
The name Agrippa was used in 1st century Israel by two rulers from the
Herodian dynasty, Herod Agrippa I and Herod Agrippa II. The primary sources of
information regarding these two individuals is the historian Josephus, and the New
Testament Book of Acts.
Agrippa I was one of the children of Aristobulus, the son of Herod the Great
and Mariamne, who was executed in 7 B.C. Agrippa I was spared at the age of
four. Aristobulus probably named him "Agrippa" after a Roman statesman and friend with that name.
Agrippa I was the "Herod" who persecuted the early church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:1-23), he killed James,
the son of Zebedee, and imprisoned Peter who was released by an angel. Agrippa
had the soldiers put to death.
Agrippa II was the king who, sometime later, listened to Paul's defense before
the apostle traveled to Rome in 60 A.D. (Acts 25:13-26:32).