Over the span of several generations, the Herod family had numerous encounters with the message of Jesus. One of those encounters was with Jesus personally, and others were with his passionate disciples.

Although Scripture records no instance of anyone in this family believing in the Messiah, it does reveal some of the consequences of their unbelief -for innocent people as well as for themselves.

1. Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, lived during the time of John the Baptist and Jesus, so he was well aware of their message and its impact on the people. How do we know that he opposed their message of repentance and redemption?

But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison. (Luke 3:19 -2O)

2. Herod Antipas was the only Herod to actually meet Jesus face-to-face. What was his expectation of Jesus, and how did he respond when Jesus ignored him?

   Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.
     The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate.  (Luke 23:8-11)

3. How did Herod Agrippa, grandson of Herod the Great who built Caesarea, respond to the message of Jesus being spread throughout his realm? (See Acts 12:1-4.)

     It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. (See Acts 12:1-4.)

4. In what way did God thwart Herod Agrippa's plan?

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.

 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him....

   In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.  After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed." (Acts 12:5-lO, 18-19)

5. How would you describe Herod Agrippa's relationship to God? What was the result of his attitude?

So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. ^And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because ^rhe did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died. ^But the word of God grew and multiplied.  (Acts 12:21-24)

6. What had Herod the Great done that no doubt influenced his grandson's perception of Jesus' message?

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”
       When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”
      Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men." (Matthew 2:13-16)

7. Why did no one in the Herod's family believe Jesus' message?  

8. For what reasons do people today refuse to believe his message?

9. Although he stayed in a palace in Jerusalem, Pilate actually lived in Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea (Israel). He is credited with dedicating a temple in Caesarea to the Roman emperor Tiberius, so it is reasonable to assume that he was very Hellenistic and considered human reason to be his ultimate authority. The interaction between Jesus and Pilate provides fascinating insight into how Jesus affirmed his testimony, yet saw no need to answer even one of the charges brought against him.

    Who was Pilate, and what questions did he ask Jesus?  (See Matthew 27:11-l4)

Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor."  (Mathew 27:11-14)

10. What differences do you think Pilate saw between the power he had as the Roman governor and the power wielded by Jesus, the alleged king who didn't even have an earthly kingdom?

11. What reason might explain why Jesus didn't defend Himself when He stood before Pilate? 

12. What higher purpose would have been on His mind?

13. What can we learn from His trial and silence?