Tactitus also mentions Agrippa II, before whom Paul preached while given a legal hearing in Acts 25-26. According to Luke, Agrippa was quite moved by Paul’s words and said “You almost persuade me to become a Christian” (Acts 26:28). Josephus admired Agrippa II greatly and said that he was “a person that deserved the greatest admiration.” (Against Apion 1.9). Agrippa II opposed the Jewish revolt in 69-70AD and tried to convince them (quite correctly) that it would only end badly. His eloquent and stirring speech to the Jews is given by Josephus in War 2.16.4.
Tacitus’ notice of Agrippa II is, again, quite brief:
The Annals 13:7:
“Amidst this and like popular talk, Nero ordered the young recruits levied in the adjacent provinces to be brought up for the supply of the legions of the East, and the legions themselves to take up a position on the Armenian frontier while two princes of old standing, Agrippa and Antiochus, were to prepare a force for the invasion of the Parthian territories. The Euphrates too was to be spanned by bridges; Lesser Armenia was intrusted to Aristobulus, Sopheneto Sohæmus, each with the ensigns of royalty. There rose up at this crisis a rival to Vologeses in his son Vardanes, and the Parthians quitted Armenia, apparently intending to defer hostilities.”
-Update-
I am currently reading Tacitus’ Histories which cover the period of Roman history from the death of Nero to Domitian, however only the portion of it up to Vespasian’s reign have survived. It is also another good read, though I am not quite done with it yet. In it Tacitus mentions Agrippa II twice as follows:
The Histories 5.1
“Early in this year Titus Cæsar, who had been selected by his father to complete the subjugation of Judæa, and who had gained distinction as a soldier while both were still subjects, began to rise in power and reputation, as armies and provinces emulated each other in their attachment to him. The young man himself, anxious to be thought superior to his station, was ever displaying his gracefulness and his energy in war. By his courtesy and affability he called forth a willing obedience, and he often mixed with the common soldiers, while working or marching, without impairing his dignity as general. He found in Judæa three legions, the 5th, the 10th, and the 15th, all old troops of Vespasian’s. To these he added the 12th from Syria, and some men belonging to the 18th and 3rd, whom he had withdrawn from Alexandria. This force was accompanied by twenty cohorts of allied troops and eight squadrons of cavalry, by the two kings Agrippa and Sohemus, by the auxiliary forces of king Antiochus, by a strong contingent of Arabs, who hated the Jews with the usual hatred of neighbours, and, lastly, by many persons brought from the capital and from Italy by private hopes of securing the yet unengaged affections of the Prince. With this force Titus entered the enemy’s territory, preserving strict order on his march, reconnoitring every spot, and always ready to give battle. At last he encamped near Jerusalem.”
The Histories 2.81
“Before the 15th of July the whole of Syria had adopted the same allegiance. There joined him, each with his entire kingdom, Sohemus, who had no contemptible army, and Antiochus, who possessed vast ancestral wealth, and was the richest of all the subject-kings. Before long Agrippa, who had been summoned from the capital by secret despatches from his friends, while as yet Vitellius knew nothing, was crossing the sea with all speed. Queen Berenice too, who was then in the prime of youth and beauty, and who had charmed even the old Vespasian by the splendour of her presents, promoted his cause with equal zeal. All the provinces washed by the sea, as far as Asia and Achaia, and the whole expanse of country inland towards Pontus and Armenia, took the oath of allegiance.”
Berenice is also mentioned in the book of Acts, I’ll post more on her soon.