Background and Lineage:
Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great and Malthace, was a tetrarch of Galilee and Perea during the time of Jesus Christ. He was part of the Herodian dynasty, a family known for its complex and often tumultuous rule over Judea and surrounding regions. Herod the Great, his father, was the king who ordered the massacre of the innocents in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:16). After Herod the Great's death, his kingdom was divided among his sons, with Antipas receiving the tetrarchy of Galilee and Perea.

Role in the New Testament:
Herod Antipas is most prominently featured in the New Testament in connection with John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. He is the Herod who ordered the beheading of John the Baptist. John had openly criticized Herod for marrying Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, which was unlawful according to Jewish law (Mark 6:17-18). Herodias harbored a grudge against John and sought his death. During a banquet, Herodias's daughter, traditionally named Salome, danced for Herod and pleased him so much that he promised her anything she wished. At her mother's prompting, she asked for the head of John the Baptist on a platter, a request Herod reluctantly fulfilled (Mark 6:21-28).

Herod Antipas also played a role in the trial of Jesus. When Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, Pilate, learning that Jesus was a Galilean, sent Him to Herod, who was in Jerusalem at the time (Luke 23:6-7). Herod had long desired to see Jesus, hoping to witness a miracle (Luke 23:8). However, Jesus did not perform any miracles or answer Herod's questions, leading Herod to mock Him and send Him back to Pilate (Luke 23:9-11).

Political and Personal Life:
Herod Antipas's rule was marked by both political maneuvering and personal scandal. His marriage to Herodias, which John the Baptist condemned, was a significant point of contention. Herodias was previously married to Herod's half-brother, Herod Philip I, making the union both politically and religiously controversial.

Herod Antipas's political ambitions were evident in his founding of the city of Tiberias on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee, named in honor of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. This city became the capital of his tetrarchy and a symbol of his allegiance to Rome.

Downfall:
Herod Antipas's downfall came as a result of his political aspirations and familial conflicts. He sought the title of king, which led to tensions with his nephew, Herod Agrippa I. Agrippa accused Antipas of conspiracy against the Roman Emperor Caligula, leading to Antipas's exile to Gaul in 39 AD. Herodias chose to accompany him into exile, marking the end of his political career.

Legacy:
Herod Antipas is remembered in Christian tradition primarily for his role in the deaths of John the Baptist and his involvement in the trial of Jesus. His life and actions are often viewed through the lens of his moral failings and political ambitions, serving as a cautionary tale of the dangers of pride and unlawful desires. His interactions with key figures of the New Testament underscore the complex interplay between political power and religious authority during the time of Christ.