Note 1 at Acts 25:13: The Agrippa spoken of here was commonly called King Agrippa II to distinguish him from his father King Agrippa I (see note 3 at Acts 12:23, p. 646). This was the last of the five Herod's mentioned in the Bible (see note 3 at Lk. 3:1, p. 70).

King Agrippa II was only 17 years old when his father died and the Roman Caesar, Claudius (see note 3 at Acts 11:28, p. 639) did not think it prudent to place such a young man in authority. Therefore, the territory which Herod Agrippa I ruled over (approximately the same in size as that governed by Herod the Great) was broken up into provinces (see note 1 at Acts 25:1, p. ???). Agrippa II still retained the title of King but his territory was administered by governors or procurators.

Claudius Caesar gave Agrippa II the power to appoint the Jewish high priest which Josephus writes that he did. He was also the custodian of the temple treasury. Agrippa II was loyal to the Roman government through out his life time and he did everything within his power to stop the Jews from revolting. When all his efforts failed, he joined his armies with those of Titus and participated in the destruction of Jerusalem in August of 70 A.D. (see note 4 at Lk. 19:43, p. 415).

Herod Agrippa II was the brother-in-law of Felix, one of the governors of his realm (see note 5 at Acts 24:25) through his sister Drusilla (Acts 24:24). His other sister Bernice (see note 2 at this verse) was widowed after her second husband (who was also her uncle) died. She came to live with her brother, Agrippa II, and it was commonly reported that they had an incestuous relationship.

Herod Agrippa II had a long family history of acquaintance with the Jewish people and especially Jesus the Messiah. It was Herod Agrippa's great grandfather, Herod the Great (see note 1 at Lk. 1:5, p. 36), who murdered all the children in the vicinity of Bethlehem (Mat. 2:16). His grandfather, Herod Antipas or Herod the tetrarch (see note 2 at Mt. 14:1, p. 227), was the man who beheaded John the Baptist (Mk. 6:16) and whom Jesus appeared before during his trial (Lk. 23:8-11). His father, Agrippa I (see note 3 at Acts 12:23, p 646), killed the apostle James and tried to kill Peter. Agrippa I was later smitten by the Lord and eaten of worms because of his receiving the praise of men as a god (Acts 12:23).

Thus was the background of Herod Agrippa II. He knew exactly who Jesus claimed to be and he was well aware of the atrocities that his father had done to the followers of Jesus. As Paul shared his faith in Jesus before Agrippa, Agrippa said, "Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian" (Acts 26:28).

Herod Agrippa II died in Rome between 93-100 A.D. at the age of 70. He was the last of the Herodian dynasty.

Note 2 at Acts 25:13: Bernice was the eldest daughter of Herod Agrippa I (see note 3 at Acts 12:23, p. 646). She was at odds with her younger sister Drusilla (see note 2 at Acts 24:24, p. ???) apparently over Drusilla's beauty and her lack of it.

Bernice was married twice before this mention of her. Her second marriage was to her uncle, Herod ruler of Chalcis, who was not mentioned in scripture. After his death, she came to live with her brother, Herod Agrippa II (see note 1 at this verse). It was commonly reported that she had an incestuous relationship with Agrippa. In an effort to squelch these rumors, she married Polemo, the king of Cilicia, but she soon left him and returned to her brother. Josepheus reports that this relationship was the common talk of Rome (Antiq. xx. 7.3, 145-147). There is no record of Bernice and Agrippa II having any children.

While Titus was conducting his campaigns in Palestine, Bernice was his mistress. In 75 A.D., Agrippa II went to Rome and the relationship between Titus and Bernice resumed so that a scandal ensued and Titus was forced to send her away. When Titus became emperor, Bernice once again returned to Rome but Titus ignored her. This was the Bernice that sat and listened to Paul share his faith in Jesus.