Conclusion - Herod Agrippa I

What an amazing story, the life of Herod Agrippa I. He goes down in secular history as a man who was given over to lavish spending and owing many debtors. He no doubt had impressive gifts, so much so that even the Caesars respected him and in Judea the Pharisees respected him and treated him as a Hasmonean ruler rather than an Edomite, but his heart was given over continually to vain things.

In Biblical history he is remembered as the violent persecutor of the early church, the one who slew James, and imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-4). Later, the Bible says, at Caesarea during a speech and receiving glory from men, he died being "eaten of worms" (Acts 12:23), in 44 A.D.

King Agrippa I was known for his many debts and yet his greatest debt was the one that he owed for his own sin, which he could never repay except by the blood of Jesus. His only hope was that he would have trusted in the hope of Israel and not in the false security of the young emperors and the Roman Empire. He borrowed and spent so much money to impress his royal friends, Claudius, Drusus, and later Caligula, but all the honor and power that each of them could give in return could never compare with the beautiful gift that the men whom he persecuted in Judea, James and Peter, were able to impart by the Holy Spirit which indwelled them.

Few men in the history of the world had experienced the power and wealth of King Herod Agrippa I, yet it was a heavy price that he had to pay to get there. He even betrayed his sisters husband Antipas, who, though he was evil, he went out of his way to help Agrippa when he was desperate, giving him a home and a guaranteed income.

The Bible reveals that "to whom much is given, much is required" and King Herod Agrippa I used his tremendous opportunity for his own selfish gain and worldly prestige.

What a tremendous opportunity we have today, to learn from the Bible the truth that if we "seek first HIS kingdom and HIS righteousness then all things will be added to us."