antipas Summary and Overview

(1.) Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great by his Samaritan wife Malthace. He was tetrarch of Galilee and Peraea during the whole period of our Lord's life on earth (Luke 23:7). He was a frivolous and vain prince, and was chargeable with many infamous crimes (Mark 8:15; Luke 3:19; 13:31, 32). He beheaded John the Baptist (Matt. 14:1-12) at the instigation of Herodias, the wife of his half-brother Herod-Philip, whom he had married. Pilate sent Christ to him when he was at Jerusalem at the Passover (Luke 23:7). He asked some idle questions of him, and after causing him to be mocked, sent him back again to Pilate. The wife of Chuza, his house-steward, was one of our Lord's disciples (Luke 8:3). (2.) A "faithful martyr" (Rev. 2:13), of whom nothing more is certainly known.

(like the father), martyr at Pergamos, #Re 2:13| and according to tradition the bishop of that place. (A.D. before 100.)

AN'TIPAS (prob. contr. Antipater, for, or like, the father), a martyr of the church in Pergamos. Rev 2:13. Tradition makes him its bishop.

A martyr faithful unto death at Pergamos (Revelation 2:13). "I know ... where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is" (the idol AEsculapius was worshipped there under the serpent form); "and thou holdest fast My name, and hast not denied My faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was My faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth." Satan, the old serpent, instigated the idol's devotees, through the magistrates at Pergamos, to slay Antipas. Compare Revelation 2:10; Revelation 12:1-17.