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Agrippa

Biblical
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

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The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

Herod Agrippa II, the last Judean king who heard Paul's defense in Acts; poetically referenced as a figure of political power, Roman alignment, and moral ambivalence in biblical and historical verse.

Detailed Definition
Agrippa II, great-grandson of Herod the Great, was a client king of Rome who listened to Paul’s testimony in Caesarea. Though nearly persuaded to believe, he remained politically neutral. In poetry, Agrippa symbolizes the near-miss of faith—worldly wisdom that recognizes truth yet refuses surrender, embodying the tension between intellectual assent and spiritual conversion.
Example
Example in poetry:
In John Milton’s "Paradise Regained," Agrippa’s encounter with Paul (Acts 26) frames the poem’s theme of truth before power; In T.S. Eliot’s "The Rock," Agrippa’s near-conversion illustrates the tragedy of hesitation; In Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s "A Drama of Exile," Agrippa represents worldly wisdom on the brink of faith; In George Herbert’s "The Church Militant," Agrippa’s skepticism contrasts with apostolic certainty; In John Keble’s "The Christian Year," Agrippa’s “almost” becomes a cautionary refrain; In W.H. Auden’s "For the Time Being," Agrippa embodies the intellectual who sees but does not embrace.
Additional Notes
Agrippa: Refers to Herod Agrippa I (Acts 12) or II (Acts 25–26), the latter who heard Paul’s defense. Agrippa II’s near-conversion (“Almost thou persuadest me…”) is a classic moment of suspended belief. In poetry, Agrippa symbolizes the intellectual on the brink of faith—ideal for exploring doubt, persuasion, or the limits of rhetoric. Useful in dramatic monologues or dialogues on belief and power.
Also Known As
Herod Agrippa Agrippa I Agrippa the Great
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