Bernice

Bernice, a Jewish princess and sister of King Agrippa II, heard Paul's defense.

Bernice was a Jewish princess and the sister of King Agrippa II. She was present with her brother when the apostle Paul made his defense before Agrippa in Caesarea (Act. 25:13, 23; 26:30). Bernice and Agrippa were the great-grandchildren of Herod the Great and the children of Herod Agrippa I. As a member of the Herodian dynasty, Bernice held a position of influence and power in the region. Her presence at Paul's hearing demonstrates the attention his case had attracted from the highest levels of society. After listening to Paul's defense, Bernice and Agrippa concluded that he had done nothing deserving of death or imprisonment (Act. 26:31-32).

Bearer of victory, the eldest daughter of Agrippa I., the Herod Agrippa of Acts 12:20. After the early death of her first husband she was married to her uncle Herod, king of Chalcis. After his death (A.D. 40) she lived in incestuous connection with her brother Agrippa II. (Acts 25:13, 23; 26:30). They joined the Romans at the outbreak of the final war between them and the Jews, and lived afterwards at Rome.