Bible Strands

Aretas

A king, in the time of the New Testament · Syria · named in 1 verse

Aretas, the king of the Nabataeans, governed Damascus and tried to arrest Paul.

From Easton's Bible Dictionary

The father-in-law of Herod Antipas, and king of Arabia Petraea. His daughter returned to him on the occasion of her husband's entering into an adulterous alliance with Herodias, the wife of Herod-Philip, his half-brother (Luke 3:19, 20; Mark 6:17; Matt. 14:3). This led to a war between Aretas and Herod Antipas. Herod's army was wholly destroyed (A.D. 36). Aretas, taking advantage of the complications of the times on account of the death of the Emperor Tiberius (A.D. 37), took possession of Damascus (2 Cor. 11:32; comp. Acts 9:25). At this time Paul returned to Damascus from Arabia.

Easton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897 — public domain, quoted in full and unedited.

First named at 2 Corinthians 11:32.

See Aretas in the family tree →

Verses that name Aretas