Herod Agrippa II
The King Who Almost Believed
Name Information
- Meaning: Agrippa = 'Wild horse' (Greek origin)
- Language of Origin: Greek
- Gender Usage: Masculine
Herod Agrippa II, the great-grandson of Herod the Great, heard Paul’s defense of the Gospel in Caesarea. Though deeply moved, he remained unconvinced. His response to Paul — 'In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?' — reveals a heart intrigued by truth but unwilling to surrender. Agrippa’s legacy is that of a man who almost believed.
⏰ 1st century AD
Roles
- Client King
- Judge
Relationships
- Sister: Bernice
Story
Listened carefully to Paul’s full testimony about Jesus and the resurrection.
Recognized Paul’s sincerity and passion.
Questioned Paul with, 'In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?'
Admitted privately that Paul had done nothing wrong.
Left unchanged — despite the clarity of the Gospel.
Spiritual Significance
- Descendant of Herod the Great and ruler over parts of Judea.
- Joined Festus in hearing Paul’s case.
- Heard Paul’s powerful defense and Gospel testimony.
- Responded with hesitation and sarcasm.
- Acknowledged Paul had done nothing deserving death or chains.
Christ Connection
Paul declared the death and resurrection of Christ to Agrippa as fulfillment of the prophets.
Agrippa's moment in court fulfilled Jesus’ words: 'You will bear witness before kings.'
Christ's Gospel reaches every level of society — but demands full surrender.
What We Can Learn
- Almost believing is not the same as salvation.
- Pride, politics, and power often blind people to truth.
- The Gospel demands a personal response — not passive admiration.
- Christ calls even kings to bow before Him.
Memory Verses
In a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian?
— Acts 26:28
Key Passages
- Acts 25–26
We do our best to ensure all content aligns with Scripture, using both AI tools and human review to validate accuracy. However, we’re human — if you notice any errors, please let us know at contact@bibleinshort.com.