[1] He started his public career late in life, having lived in seclusion in Liguria, where Ennodius made his acquaintance.
[2] Ennodius helped Agapitus obtain a high position at the court of Theodoric the Great in 502, and subsequently was appointed urban prefect of Rome.
[4] During his tenure as urban prefect, or shortly afterwards, he was made Patrician and settled many cases affecting the Senate.
[5] Ennodius comments that he had achieved a favorable reputation in the Senate, which possibly led to his appointment as consul.
In 523, Agapitus was part of the entourage of Pope John I, who had been ordered by king Theodoric to proceed to Constantinople and obtain a moderation of Emperor Justin's decree of 523 against the Arians.