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Which Herod is Which?
“[Then] Herod the king stretched out his hand to harass some from the church.” Acts 12:1
Herod appears many times in the gospels and the book of Acts, but it does not always refer to the same man. In fact, the Bible mentions six different men named Herod.
The most popularly known Herod is Herod the Great. He famously appears in the gospels of Matthew and Luke in the story of Jesus’ birth. Luke only mentions that Jesus was born “in the days of Herod, king of Judea” in Luke 1:5. However, Matthew provides more information.
Matthew 2 details the wise men traveling from the East to Jerusalem, following a star. Upon arriving in town, they visit King Herod’s palace to inquire about the promised Messiah’s whereabouts.
“Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (Mt 2:2)
Herod becomes enraged at the news. When the wise men did not return to tell him where Jesus was, he ordered all male boys under the age of two killed (Mt 2:16) in an event now known as “The Slaughter of the Innocents.” Providentially, he did not kill Jesus because God had directed Joseph in a dream to take his young family and flee to Egypt (Mt 2:13–15).
The Bible does not mention more about Herod the Great, but historical sources detail his lust…
