At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
At that time points to Herod Antipas the tetrarch, in whose territory east of the Jordan John the Baptist had preached extensively and to whom Herod himself had listened, and it falls at a time when John lay in prison. The fame Herod heard was the report of Jesus' growing work and mighty works, which had spread so widely that crowds thronged to Jesus seeking healing and eager to hear His words, and many accepted Him as Saviour. Such reports were also carried to John in prison by his own disciples.
John was troubled by those reports because he expected the Messiah to overthrow oppressive rulers and deliver him from prison, while Jesus' work of teaching and healing did not fit that expectation. Herod himself heard only after Jesus' ministry had been underway, about a year after ordering John's death. This is striking because he had lived in Galilee for about thirty years and John had been put to death recently, yet the delay is explained by the general disregard for religion among people of high rank and the resulting ignorance of religious events.
Herod had heard John's preaching, but in a scene of revelry he was entrapped by the captivating dance of Herodias' daughter into promising her anything she asked, and with his senses debased by wine he gave the order for John's death. When the bleeding head was brought in before his guests they felt horror at the sight, and Herod could not close his vision to the painful scene. Yet after a year had passed with time to consider his own life and character, he was still with his unlawful wife Herodias while witnessing and going through the formal ceremonies as a Jew observing the annual Passover.
When the reports reached Herod they frightened, terrified, and made him tremble, arising from a guilty conscience over having John beheaded and from fear that God would punish him. He concluded that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, with the mighty works being done through him and empowered to condemn sin. Although he had never met Jesus, Herod had long wanted to see Him and witness His power, expecting to make Him perform a miracle to save his own life.
Herod had once felt remorse for having John killed and had nearly become John's disciple, but at the point of decision he rejected the truth and killed a prophet he knew was true. He turned from the truth and became morally hardened, with his remorse fading as his sinful life degraded his moral sense until his sins seemed trivial to him. The fuller passage beginning with this hearing and continuing through the birthday feast at which John was put to death shows that intemperance among people in authority can impair judgment and justice and lead to the death of an innocent person.
At that time points to Herod Antipas the tetrarch, in whose territory east of the Jordan John the Baptist had preached extensively and to whom Herod himself had listened, and it falls at a time when John lay in prison. The fame Herod heard was the report of Jesus' growing work and mighty works, which had spread so widely that crowds thronged to Jesus seeking healing and eager to hear His words, and many accepted Him as Saviour. Such reports were also carried to John in prison by his own disciples.
John was troubled by those reports because he expected the Messiah to overthrow oppressive rulers and deliver him from prison, while Jesus' work of teaching and healing did not fit that expectation. Herod himself heard only after Jesus' ministry had been underway, about a year after ordering John's death. This is striking because he had lived in Galilee for about thirty years and John had been put to death recently, yet the delay is explained by the general disregard for religion among people of high rank and the resulting ignorance of religious events.
Herod had heard John's preaching, but in a scene of revelry he was entrapped by the captivating dance of Herodias' daughter into promising her anything she asked, and with his senses debased by wine he gave the order for John's death. When the bleeding head was brought in before his guests they felt horror at the sight, and Herod could not close his vision to the painful scene. Yet after a year had passed with time to consider his own life and character, he was still with his unlawful wife Herodias while witnessing and going through the formal ceremonies as a Jew observing the annual Passover.
When the reports reached Herod they frightened, terrified, and made him tremble, arising from a guilty conscience over having John beheaded and from fear that God would punish him. He concluded that Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead, with the mighty works being done through him and empowered to condemn sin. Although he had never met Jesus, Herod had long wanted to see Him and witness His power, expecting to make Him perform a miracle to save his own life.
Herod had once felt remorse for having John killed and had nearly become John's disciple, but at the point of decision he rejected the truth and killed a prophet he knew was true. He turned from the truth and became morally hardened, with his remorse fading as his sinful life degraded his moral sense until his sins seemed trivial to him. The fuller passage beginning with this hearing and continuing through the birthday feast at which John was put to death shows that intemperance among people in authority can impair judgment and justice and lead to the death of an innocent person.