Get Aggripa

If you follow Christ you need to be a prayerful person not a prideful person.

1. Fervent prayer is the power of the powerless.

Herod the Great

Lifespan: ~73 BC–4 BC

Reign: 37 BC–4 BC (King of Judea, appointed by Rome)

Biblical Actions:

Ordered the massacre of infants in Bethlehem to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16–18: “When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated… and executed all the male children in Bethlehem… two years old and under.”)

Ruled Judea during Jesus’ birth (Matthew 2:1: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod…”).

Known for extensive building projects, including the Second Temple’s expansion.

Key Note: Cruel and paranoid, his rule set the stage for the Herodian dynasty.

Herod Archelaus

Lifespan: ~23 BC–~18 AD

Reign: 4 BC–6 AD (Ethnarch of Judea, Samaria, and Idumea)

Biblical Actions:

Ruled Judea after Herod the Great’s death, prompting Joseph to avoid Judea and settle in Nazareth (Matthew 2:22: “But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.”).

Deposed by Rome due to misrule and exiled.

Key Note: His harsh governance led to Roman direct rule via prefects like Pontius Pilate.

Herod Antipas

Lifespan: ~20 BC–~39 AD

Reign: 4 BC–39 AD (Tetrarch of Galilee and Perea)

Biblical Actions:

Beheaded John the Baptist at the request of Herodias’ daughter (Mark 6:22–27: “The daughter… said, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head…’ So… he sent an executioner.”).

Questioned Jesus during His trial but sent Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:7–11: “When he learned that he was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod… Herod… sent him back to Pilate.”).

Criticized by Jesus as “that fox” (Luke 13:32).

Key Note: Exiled to Gaul after political missteps.

Herod Agrippa I

Lifespan: ~11 BC–44 AD

Reign: 37–44 AD (King of Judea and surrounding regions)

Biblical Actions:

Persecuted the early church, killing James and imprisoning Peter (Acts 12:1–3: “Herod the king… killed James, John’s brother, with the sword.”).

Struck down by God for accepting divine worship, dying suddenly (Acts 12:21–23: “The angel of the Lord struck him… he was eaten by worms and died.”).

Key Note: Expanded his territory under Roman favor but faced divine judgment.

Herod Agrippa II

Lifespan: ~27 AD–~92/93 AD

Reign: 50–~92/93 AD (Tetrarch of Chalcis, later parts of Galilee and Perea)

Biblical Actions:

Heard Paul’s defense in Caesarea with his sister Bernice (Acts 25:13–26:32: “King Agrippa… I am fortunate… to make my defense… Agrippa said to Paul, ‘In a short time you’re going to persuade me to become a Christian!’”).

Did not rule Judea directly but had influence under Roman governors.

Key Note: Last significant Herod in the Bible, known for his interaction with Paul.

James-Johns brother Sons of Thunder

2. Corporate Prayer gives power to the Church.

Acts 12:12 “As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John who was called Mark, where many had assembled and were praying.”

Last Supper

Day of Pentecost

It’s His Angel

Prayer Posture

Standing

Mark 11:25: “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your wrongdoing.”

Luke 18:11: “The Pharisee was standing and praying like this about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I’m not like other people—greedy, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.’”

Kneeling

1 Kings 8:54: “When Solomon finished praying this entire prayer and petition to the Lord, he got up from kneeling before the altar of the Lord, with his hands spread out toward heaven.”

Daniel 6:10: “When Daniel learned that the document had been signed, he went into his house. The windows in its upstairs room opened toward Jerusalem, and three times a day he got down on his knees, prayed, and gave thanks to his God, just as he had done before.”

Acts 21:5: “When our time had come to an end, we left to continue our journey, while all of them, with their wives and children, escorted us out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach to pray, we said farewell to one another.”

Bowing/Prostrating

Nehemiah 8:6: “Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and with their hands uplifted all the people said, ‘Amen, Amen!’ Then they knelt low and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.”

Matthew 26:39: “Going a little farther, he fell facedown and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.’”

Hands Spread Out/Lifted

1 Kings 8:22: “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands toward heaven.”

Psalm 141:2: “May my prayer be set before you as incense, the raising of my hands as the evening offering.”

1 Timothy 2:8: “Therefore, I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or argument.”

Sitting

2 Samuel 7:18: “Then King David went in, sat in the Lord’s presence, and said, ‘Who am I, Lord God, and what is my house that you have brought me this far?’”

3. Answered prayer is not always what we expect.

Psalm 5:10: “Make them bear their guilt, O God; let them fall by their own counsels; because of their many sins, cast them out, for they have rebelled against you.”

Context: David prays for God’s judgment on the wicked who oppose him, seeking divine justice.

Psalm 35:8: “Let destruction come upon him when he does not know it! And let the net that he hid ensnare him; let him fall into it—to his destruction!”

Context: David asks God to bring ruin upon his enemies who unjustly plot against him.

Psalm 58:6: “God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs.”

Context: David calls for God to disarm the wicked, likened to predatory lions, for their evil deeds.

Psalm 69:24–25: “Pour out your rage on them; let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be desolate; may no one live in their tents.”

Context: David seeks God’s wrath on those who persecute him, quoted in the New Testament (Romans 11:9–10).

Psalm 109:8–9: “Let his days be few; let another take his position. Let his children be fatherless and his wife a widow.”

Context: David prays for severe judgment on a betrayer, partially quoted in Acts 1:20 regarding Judas.

Daniel 5:20–21 “20 But when his heart was exalted and his spirit became arrogant, he was deposed from his royal throne and his glory was taken from him. 21 He was driven away from people, his mind was like an animal’s, he lived with the wild donkeys, he was fed grass like cattle, and his body was drenched with dew from the sky until he acknowledged that the Most High God is ruler over human kingdoms and sets anyone he wants over them.”

WORM

Below are key Bible verses from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB) that explicitly mention a "worm" in various contexts, primarily focusing on its literal or metaphorical use. The verses are presented in a concise, bulleted list for easy copying, with each including the reference and CSB text.

Job 25:6: “How much less a human, who is a maggot, a son of man, who is a worm!”

Context: Bildad describes human insignificance before God, using "worm" to emphasize frailty.

Psalm 22:6: “But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by people.”

Context: The psalmist expresses deep humiliation, possibly prophetic of Christ’s suffering.

Isaiah 41:14: “Do not fear, you worm Jacob, you men of Israel: I will help you—this is the Lord’s declaration.”

Context: God addresses Israel’s weakness, using "worm" to highlight their vulnerability, yet promises aid.

Isaiah 66:24: “As they leave, they will see the dead bodies of those who have rebelled against me; for their worm will never die, their fire will never go out, and they will be a horror to all mankind.”

Context: Describes eternal judgment, with "worm" symbolizing unending decay.

Jonah 4:7: “When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered.”

Context: God uses a worm to destroy Jonah’s plant, teaching a lesson about compassion.

Acts 12:23: “At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he was eaten by worms and died.”

Context: Herod Agrippa I’s divine judgment, with worms indicating a gruesome death.

Ezekiel

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

The word of the LORD came to me: 2 “Son of man, say to the ruler of Tyre, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says: Your heart is proud, and you have said, “I am a god; I sit in the seat of gods in the heart of the sea.” Yet you are a man and not a god, though you have regarded your heart as that of a god. 3 Yes, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you! 4 By your wisdom and understanding you have acquired wealth for yourself. You have acquired gold and silver for your treasuries. 5 By your great skill in trading you have increased your wealth, but your heart has become proud because of your wealth.

6 “ ‘Therefore, this is what the Lord GOD says:

Because you regard your heart as that of a god,

7 I am about to bring strangers against you,

ruthless men from the nations.

They will draw their swords

against your magnificent wisdom

and will pierce your splendor.

8 They will bring you down to the Pit,

and you will die a violent death

in the heart of the sea.

9 Will you still say, “I am a god,”

in the presence of those who slay you?

Yet you will be only a man, not a god,

in the hands of those who kill you.

10 You will die the death of the uncircumcised

at the hands of strangers.

For I have spoken.

This is the declaration of the Lord GOD.’ ”

Proverbs 16:18: “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 29:23: “A person’s pride will humble him, but a humble spirit will gain honor.”

James 4:6: “But he gives greater grace. Therefore he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

1 John 2:16: “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride in one’s possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

Proverbs 11:2: “When pride comes, disgrace follows, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Flavius Josephus regarding the death of King Herod Agrippa I, as recorded in Antiquities of the Jews (Book 19, Chapter 8, Section 2), does not explicitly mention being "eaten by worms." Instead, it describes the circumstances of his death as follows:

“Now when Agrippa had reigned three years over all Judea, he came to the city Cesarea… and there he exhibited shows in honor of Caesar… On the second day of which shows he put on a garment made wholly of silver… and came into the theater early in the morning; at which time the silver of his garment being illuminated by the fresh reflection of the sun’s rays upon it, shone out after a surprising manner, and was so resplendent as to spread a horror over those that looked intently upon him; and presently his flatterers cried out… that he was a god; and they added, ‘Be thou merciful to us; for although we have hitherto reverenced thee only as a man, yet shall we henceforth own thee as superior to mortal nature.’ Upon this the king did neither rebuke them, nor reject their impious flattery. But as he presently afterward looked up, he saw an owl sitting on a certain rope over his head, and immediately understood that this bird was the messenger of ill tidings… A severe pain also arose in his belly, and began in a most violent manner… And when he had been quite worn out by the pain in his belly for five days, he departed this life…”