How the Herodian dynasty ties the birth narratives, John the Baptist, Jesus' trial and Paul's last hearings together.
Herod the Great and three sons
FamilyWidely acceptedThe NT Herods belong to one family. After Herod the Great died, Archelaus ruled Judea, Antipas became tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, and Philip tetrarch of the northeast. Matthew and Luke name three of the four; Josephus supplies the genealogy.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Two births in the days of Herod
RoleStated in the textLuke opens with Zechariah serving in the days of Herod, king of Judea. Matthew places Jesus' birth in the same reign. So John the Baptist and Jesus are born under the same king whose family would later kill John and try Jesus.
Where the text shows it: Luke 1:5 — In the days of Herod king of JudeaMatthew 2:1 — Jesus born in the days of Herod the king Sources: Scripture
Joseph avoids Archelaus and settles in Nazareth
RoleStated in the textHearing that Archelaus reigned in Judea, Joseph feared to go back and was warned in a dream to withdraw to Galilee, settling in Nazareth. That put Jesus in the territory of Antipas instead.
Where the text shows it: Matthew 2:22-23 — Warned in a dream; settles in Nazareth Sources: Scripture
Agrippa I is a grandson of Herod the Great
FamilyWidely acceptedThe "Herod the king" of Acts 12 who killed James is Agrippa I, a grandson of Herod the Great according to Josephus. He briefly reunited the family territories under one rule.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Herodias, married to two half-brothers
FamilyStated in the textMark says Herod Antipas took Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. John said it was unlawful. Josephus names her first husband as another half-brother (also called Herod). The Philip in the Gospels is usually distinguished from the tetrarch Philip.
Where the text shows it: Mark 6:17-18 — Herod married his brother Philip's wife HerodiasLuke 3:19 — John rebukes Herod for Herodias Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Herodias was also Antipas's niece
FamilyWidely acceptedJosephus says Herodias was a granddaughter of Herod the Great through Aristobulus, making her Antipas's niece as well as sister-in-law. The NT does not mention this.
Where the text shows it: Mark 6:17 — Herodias as his brother's wife Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Herodias and Agrippa I were brother and sister
FamilyWidely acceptedBoth were children of Aristobulus, son of Herod the Great, per Josephus. That makes Agrippa I, who killed James, the brother of the woman who engineered John's death.
Where the text shows it: Acts 12:1-2 — Herod kills James with the swordMark 6:24-28 — Herodias engineers John's death Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
The dancer is Salome
FamilyWidely acceptedMark calls the dancer "his daughter Herodias" in some manuscripts or "the daughter of Herodias" in others; Josephus names Herodias's daughter Salome, who later married the tetrarch Philip. The Gospels never name her.
Where the text shows it: Mark 6:22 — The daughter of Herodias dancesMatthew 14:6-11 — Daughter of Herodias asks for John's head Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Salome married her great-uncle Philip
FamilyWidely acceptedJosephus says Salome, Herodias's daughter, married Philip the tetrarch, her father's half-brother. The Gospels only say Philip ruled Iturea and Traconitis.
Where the text shows it: Luke 3:1 — Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Antipas imprisons and kills John
RoleStated in the textAntipas arrested John over Herodias, feared and listened to him, and then had him beheaded after Salome's dance and a rash oath. Josephus gives a political motive (fear of unrest) rather than a marital one.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Pilate sends Jesus to Antipas
RoleStated in the textOnly Luke records Pilate sending Jesus to Herod Antipas in Jerusalem, where Antipas mocked him. Luke adds that Herod and Pilate became friends that day, having been enemies before.
Sources: Scripture
Joanna, wife of Herod's steward
FamilyStated in the textJoanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, is among the women who supported Jesus from their means and who later heard the angel at the tomb. Her husband's position put a disciple inside Antipas's household.
Where the text shows it: Luke 8:3 — Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's household managerLuke 24:10 — Joanna at the empty tomb Sources: Scripture
Manaen, raised with Herod Antipas
FriendsStated in the textManaen is described as having been brought up with Herod the tetrarch before becoming a prophet and teacher at Antioch beside Barnabas and Saul. The Greek syntrophos may mean foster-brother or childhood companion.
Where the text shows it: Acts 13:1 — Manaen brought up with Herod the tetrarch Sources: Scripture
Did Joanna and Manaen supply Luke's Herod stories?
RoleHypothesisLuke alone reports the news of Herod hearing about Jesus, the warning about "that fox", and Jesus before Herod. Because Joanna and Manaen had Herodian ties, some suggest they were Luke's sources.
Ways people read this (3)
- Luke drew on Joanna and Manaen for court material.
- Luke used general informants or traditions, and the pairing is coincidental.
- Bauckham argues the Junia of Romans 16:7 may be this Joanna, a separate and more speculative claim.
Sources: Richard Bauckham, Gospel Women
Agrippa I kills James and arrests Peter
RoleStated in the textHerod Agrippa I executed James, the brother of John, and imprisoned Peter at Passover before an angel freed him. Acts then records his death in Caesarea in Acts 12:20-23.
Sources: Scripture
Agrippa I's three children in Acts
FamilyWidely acceptedJosephus says Agrippa I was the father of Agrippa II, Bernice, and Drusilla. The NT names Agrippa, Bernice, and Drusilla in Acts 24-26 without spelling out that they are siblings.
Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Agrippa II and Bernice
FamilyWidely acceptedActs pairs "Agrippa the king and Bernice" without explaining their relation. Josephus identifies her as his sister, who lived with him and later with Titus.
Where the text shows it: Acts 25:13 — Agrippa the king and BerniceActs 25:23 — Entered with great pomp Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Drusilla, Felix's wife and Agrippa II's sister
FamilyWidely acceptedActs says Drusilla was Jewish. Josephus says she was a sister of Agrippa II who left her first husband for Felix. So Paul spoke before Felix, Drusilla, and then two years later her brother.
Where the text shows it: Acts 24:24 — Drusilla, who was JewishActs 26:1 — Agrippa gives Paul leave to speak Sources: Scripture · Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews
Drafted with AI assistance from the biblical text and named historical sources, and labelled by how firmly each link is supported. Family links also draw on STEPBible’s TIPNR data (CC BY 4.0). Where tradition or hypothesis is involved, read the cited verses and judge for yourself.