Blastus
/BLAS-tus/
Summary
The chamberlain of King Herod Agrippa I whom the people of Tyre and Sidon bribed to secure an audience with the king.
☩Role in Scripture
Blastus served as the king's chamberlain, a position of considerable influence as he controlled access to the royal presence. When the people of Tyre and Sidon sought to make peace with Herod Agrippa I (whose territory supplied their food), they first 'made Blastus the king's chamberlain their friend'—likely through bribes—to arrange an audience. This meeting led to the infamous occasion when Herod, arrayed in royal robes, was acclaimed as a god and was immediately struck down by an angel of the Lord.
Key verses:Acts 12:20-23
Related Verses1 mention
Acts· 1 verse
References
- 1.James Orr (ed.), "Blastus," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. I (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 2.Andrew Robert Fausset, "Blastus," in The Englishman's Critical and Expository Bible Cyclopædia (Hodder & Stoughton, 1878).