Agrippa (2)

2. AGRIPPA, sirnamed Herod, the Son of Aristobulus and Mariamne, and Grandson to Herod the Great, was born in the year of the World 3997, three years before the birth of our Saviour, and seven years before the vulgar Æra. After the death of Aristobulus his Father, Herod his Grandfather took care of his education, and sent him to Rome to make his court to Tiberius¹. The Emperor conceived a great affection for Agrippa, and placed him near his Son Drusus. Agrippa very soon won the good graces of Drusus and the Empress Antonia: But Drusus having been carried off by a sudden death, all those who had been In the Year of J.C. 23.much about him were commanded by Tiberius to withdraw from Rome, lest the sight and presence of them should renew his affliction. Agrippa, who had indulged his inclination to Liberality, was obliged to leave Rome, overwhelm’d with debts, and in a very poor condition. He did not dare to go to Jerusalem, because he was not able to make a figure there suitable to his birth; he retired therefore to the Castle of Massada, where he lived rather like a private Person than a Prince. Herod the Tetrarch his Uncle, who had married Herodias his Sister, assisted him for some time with a great deal of Generosity: He made him the principal Magistrate of Tiberias, and presented him with a large sum of Money; but all this was not sufficient to answer the excessive expences and profuseness of Agrippa; so that Herod growing weary of assisting him, and one day reproaching him gently with his bad œconomy, Agrippa was so affected with it, that he took a resolution to quit Judæa and return to Rome.

In the Year of J.C. 35.But as he wanted Money, Marsyas a slave, whom he had made free, addressed himself to one Protus, a Person of the same condition about Berenice, who consented to lend him twenty Drachma’s² upon thousand Marsyas’s security, provided Agrippa, who was already in his debt, would give him a bond for twenty thousand upon the receipt of no more than seventeen thousand five hundred. Besides this Sum, he borrowed two hundred thousand Drachma’s of Alexander Alabarch, or Chief of the Jews at Alexandria, upon condition that Cypros, Agrippa’s Wife, should be answerable for them; besides, Alexander would pay him part only of this sum at Alexandria, for the rest he remitted to him into Italy as soon as he arrived there.

The Emperor Tiberius then kept his Court at Capreæ, and Agrippa, before he proceeded farther on his journey to him, gave him intelligence of his arrival, and desired his leave to wait on him with his respects. Tiberius, whom time had cured of his affliction for the death of Drusus, sent him word that he was glad to hear of his return, and desired to see him at Capreæ. Thither he went, and the Emperor, as a mark of Distinction, gave him an apartment in his Palace, and received him with abundance of caresses.

The next day Letters were brought to the Emperor from Herennius, who had the care of his affairs in Judæa; wherein he informed his Master, that Agrippa having borrowed three hundred thousand pieces of Silver out of his Majesty’s Exchequer, had fled out of Judæa without paying them. This news very much disturbed Tiberius, and so far exasperated him against Agrippa, that he commanded him to leave the Palace, and pay what he owed. Agrippa was not dejected at this unlucky accident, but addressed himself to the Empress Antonia, and desired her to lend him this sum of money. Antonia, who loved Agrippa for his Mother Berenice’s sake, could not refuse him this favour; and by this means Agrippa cleared himself of this troublesome Affair. Tiberius hereupon received him again into his good graces, and commanded him to attend Tiberius Nero, the Son of Drusus. Agrippa having more inclination for Caius Caligula, the Son of Germanicus, and Grandson of Antonia, chose rather to attach himself to him; as if he had some prophetick views of the future elevation of Caius, who at that time was beloved by all the world. The great assiduity and agreeable behaviour of Agrippa, so engaged this Prince, that he was not able to live without him.

One day as they were together in a litter³, Agrippa said to Caius, I wish I could see the day when this old Man (speaking of the Emperor) would be going into the other world, and leave you master of this, without meeting with any obstacles from his Grandson Tiberius Nero! how happy would the World then be, and how over-joyed should I be to see this lucky moment! This discourse was over-heard by Eutyches, a slave whom Agrippa had made free; but for the present he took no notice of it. However, sometime after, believing he had reason to be dissatisfied with Agrippa, he desired an opportunity of speaking to the Emperor, and said he had things of the utmost consequence to impart to him, relating to Agrippa.

Tiberius was very slow in every thing he did, and was contented, for that time, with only giving orders that Eutyches should be confined. Nevertheless, Agrippa, who knew nothing that his servant had to tell, and believed himself to be intirely innocent, pressed Tiberius very much to hear what Eutyches had to say, and put an end to this affair. The Emperor, who loved Agrippa, made no haste to enquire farther into this accusation. Agrippa therefore at last made use of the Empress, and as it were forced Tiberius to have Eutyches produced, and hear what he had to say against his Master.

Agrippa hereupon was loaded with fetters, and committed to the guard of an Officer, who observed him narrowly, but not without shewing some regard to him, in consideration of Antonia, whose commands he had for so doing. Tiberius dying some time after, and Caius Caligula succeeding him, the new Emperor heaped many favours and much wealth upon him, changed his iron fetters into a chain of gold, set a royal Diadem upon his head, and gave him the Tetrarchy which Philip the Son of Herod the Great had been possessed of, that is to say, the Batanæa and Trachonitis: To this he added that of Lysanias; and Agrippa returned very soon into Judæa, to take possession of his new In the year of J. C. 39.Kingdom.

The sight of his good fortune having raised the envy of Herodias his Sister, Wife to the Tetrarch Herod, she engaged the King her Husband to undertake a journey to Rome, with hopes that he too might obtain the title of King from Caius. But he was scarce got to Italy, before Fortunatus, one to whom Agrippa had given his liberty, arrived also, with letters from his Master, wherein he accused his Uncle Herod with having carried on a secret correspondence with Sejanus, and with having private intelligence at that time with Artabanus, King of Parthia; and for a proof of this, he assured the Emperor that there were Arms lodged in his Arsenals sufficient for seventy thousand Men. While Herod was receiving audience of Caius, Fortunatus came, and presented Agrippa’s letters to him. He immediately opened them, and having read them, he asked Herod whether it were true, that he had such a quantity of Arms. Herod, not being able to deny it, was banished into Gaul, and his Tetrarchy was given to Agrippa, in the year of J. C. 40.

The Emperor Caïus having undertaken to make himself adored, and desiring to be reverenced as a God, had a mind to have his Statue set up in the Temple of Jerusalem. In the year of J. C. 40.But the Jews opposed this In the year of J. C. 41. Jan. 25.design with so much resolution, that Petronius had not courage to pursue it any farther, but took the liberty to represent in a letter to the Emperor, what resistance he met with from the Jews. Agrippa, who was then at Rome, coming to the Emperor at the very time while he was reading this letter, Caius told him, that the Jews were the only People of all Mankind who refused to own him for a God, and that they had taken arms to oppose his resolution. At these words, Agrippa fell down, as it were in a swoon, was carried home, and there continued without sense or knowledge of any thing till the next Evening. As soon as he was a little recovered, he wrote a long letter to Caius, wherein he endeavoured to soften him, and his arguments made such an impression upon the Emperor’s mind, that he desisted for a time at least, and in appearance, from the design which he had formed, of setting up his Statue in the Temple.

Caius being killed in the beginning of the year following, Agrippa, who was then at Rome, contributed a great deal, by his advice, to maintain Claudius in the Empire, to which he had been advanced by the soldiers. But in this affair Agrippa acted a part wherein he shewed more cunning and address, than sincerity and honesty: for while he made a shew of being in the interests of the Senate, he secretly advised Claudius to be resolute, and not to abandon his good fortune. The Emperor, as an acknowledgment for his good Offices, gave him all Judæa, and the kingdom of Chalcis, which had been possessed by Herod his Brother. So that Agrippa became on a sudden one of the most powerful Princes of the East, and was possess’d of as much or more than had been held by Herod the Great his Grandfather. He returned into Judæa, and governed it to the great satisfaction of the Jews.⁴ But the desire of pleasing them, and a mistaken zeal for their Religion, induced him to do In the year of J. C. 44. Acts xii. 1, 2, 3, &c.an unjust action, the memory whereof is preserved in Scripture.

Near the Feast of the Passover, in the year of J. C. 44. S. James major, the Son of Zebedee, and Brother to S. John the Evangelist, was seized by his order, and put to death. He proceeded also to lay hands on S. Peter, and imprisoned him, waiting till the Festival was over, that he might then have him executed. But God having miraculously delivered S. Peter from the place of his confinement, the ill will of Agrippa, in this particular, had not its effect. After the Passover, Agrippa went from Jerusalem to Cæsarea, and there had Games represented in honour of Claudius⁵. The inhabitants of Tyre and Sidon waited on him in this place, suing for peace. This Prince being come early in the morning to the Theatre, with a design to give them audience, seated himself on his throne, dressed in a robe of silver tissue, worked in a most admirable manner. The rising sun darting upon it with its rays, gave it such a lustre as the eyes of the spectators could scarce endure. When therefore the King spoke to the Tyrians and Sidonians, the people and the flatterers about him began to cry that it was the voice of a God, and not of a man.

Instead of rejecting these impious flatteries, Agrippa received them with an air of complacency, and at the same time saw an Owl above him on a cord. He had seen the same bird before, when he was in bonds, under the reign of Tiberius, and it was then told him, that he should be soon set at liberty; but that whenever he saw the same thing a second time, he should not live above five days beyond it. He was therefore extremely terrified, and at the same time the Angel of the Lord smote him, because he did not give God the glory. They were forced to carry him back to his palace, where he died, at the end of five days, racked with tormenting pains in his bowels, and devoured with worms. Such was the death of Herod Agrippa, after seven years reign, in the year of J. C. 44. He left a Son of seventeen years of age, of the same name, Agrippa, and three Daughters, viz. Berenice, who was married to her Uncle Herod, her Father’s Brother; Mariamne, betroth’d to Julius Archelaüs, the Son of Chelcias; and Drusilla, promised to Epiphanius the Son of Archelaüs, King of Comagena.3. AGRIPPA, the younger, Son to him we have been speaking of, was at Rome with the Emperor Claudius, when his Father died1. The Emperor was inclin’d to give him all the dominions that were possess’d by his Father; but they who were about him dissuaded him from it. He kept Agrippa four years longer at his Court, and sent Cuspius Fadus into Judæa, till this young Prince, who was then but seventeen years of age, was in a condition to reign. The year following, the 45th of J. C. the Governour of Syria coming to Jerusalem, intended that the High Priest’s ornaments should be put into the hands of Fadus, and was for compelling the Jews to deliver them, in order to be kept within the tower of Antonia, where they had been lodged before, till Vitellius committed them to the custody of the Jews. But they giving good security for them, were permitted to send Deputies to Rome on this affair, who by the credit and good offices of young Agrippa, so managed matters, that they were maintained in the possession of their privilege, and the pontifical ornaments were continued in their custody.

In the year of J. C. 48. Herod King of Chalcis, and Uncle to young Agrippa, dying, the Emperor gave his dominions to this Prince, who notwithstanding did not go into Judæa till four years after, that is to say, in the year of J. C. 53. when Claudius taking from him the kingdom of Chalcis, gave him the provinces of Gaulanitis, Trachonitis, Batanæa, Paneas, and Abylene, which formerly had been in the possession of Lysanias.

After the death of Claudius, his successor Nero, who had a great affection for Agrippa, to his other dominions added Julias in Peræa, and that part of Galilee to which Tarichæa and Tiberias belonged. Festus, Governour of Judæa, coming to his Government, in the year of J. C. 60. King Agrippa and Berenice his Sister went as far as Cæsarea to salute him; and as they continued there for some time, Festus talked with the King concerning the affair of S. Paul, who had been seized on in the Temple about two years before, and within few days before his visit had appealed unto the Emperor.

Acts xxv. 13, 14, &seq.Agrippa said to Festus, I have long desired to hear this Man speak. To-morrow, answer’d Festus, you shall hear him. On the morrow therefore, when Agrippa was come and Berenice with great pomp, and were enter’d into the place of Audience, Paul was brought forth, and Festus said, King Agrippa, and all Men which are here present with us, ye see this Man about whom all the multitude of the Jews have dealt with me, both here and at Jerusalem, representing to me with great instances and cries that he ought not to live any longer; but when I found upon examination that he had committed nothing worthy of death, and that he himself had appealed unto Augustus, I determined to send him, of whom I have no certain thing to write, unto my Lord; wherefore I have brought him forth before you, and especially before thee, O King Agrippa, that, after examination had, I might have somewhat to write; for it seemeth to me unreasonable to send a Prisoner, and not withal to signify the crimes laid against him.

Acts xxvi. 1, 2, &c.Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Thou art permitted to speak for thyself: Hereupon Paul stretched forth his hand, and answer’d for himself, I think myself happy, King Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee, touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews; especially because I know thee to be expert in all customs and questions which are among the Jews, wherefore I beseech thee to hear me 1 Joseph. Antiq. l. 19. c. 7. & l. 20 c. 1. & seq. & l. 2. de bell. c. 21, 22, 23. In the Year of J. C. 44. me patiently. After this he declared he was in bonds only for maintaining the Hope of Israel, that is to say, the Resurrection of the Dead. Then addressing himself to Agrippa, Does it seem to thee a thing incredible, says he, that God should raise the Dead?

After this he related the several persecutions which he had promoted against Christians, and the miraculous manner wherein God had converted him while he was going to Damascus, with a design of searching after and imprisoning them. While he was speaking of the Resurrection, and the Apparition he had seen in his way to Damascus, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul thou art beside thyself, much learning hath made thee mad. To this Paul answer’d, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the word of Truth and Soberness: For the King knoweth of these things; for this thing was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, believest thou the Prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. And Paul said, I would to God that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. Then the King, and all that sat with him rising up, Agrippa said to Festus, this Man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Cæsar.

Agrippa deprived Joseph Cabeï of the High priesthood, and gave it to Ananus⁶, in the year of Jesus Christ 62. This was that Ananus who put to death James Minor in Jerusalem, near the time of the Passover⁷. But this action gave such general disgust to all, that Agrippa took from him the High-priesthood, which he had enjoyed but three months, and gave it to Jesus, the Son of Damnæus. Some time after he allowed the Levites, who were appointed to sing in the Temple, to wear the linen robe, which had hitherto been reserved for the use only of the Priests. And as part only of the Levites were employed in singing, and the rest were taken up with other offices in the Temple: He permitted these too to learn to sing, that so they might have their share in that Privilege which he had granted to the others.

While every thing was disposed for a Rebellion in Judæa, Agrippa did all he could to quiet the minds of the People, and incline them to peace. But his endeavours were too unsuccessful; he for some time indeed suspended, but could not intirely suppress the passion of the Jews, who were exasperated, and drove to the last extremities by the cruelties and insolence of their Governors. They declared openly against the Romans, in the year of Jesus Christ 66, and Agrippa was forced to join his troops with those of Rome, to reduce his Countrymen, and assist in taking of Jerusalem. After the destruction of this City, he retired to Rome with his Sister Berenice, with whom he had always lived in an indiscreet manner, which had given occasion for much talk very little to the advantage of either of them. He died at about seventy years of Age, towards the year 90⁸.

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