Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

We have here the story of John's martyrdom. Observe, I. The occasion of relating this story here, Matt. 14:1, 2. Here is, 1. The account brought to Herod of the miracles which Christ wrought. Herod the tetrarch or chief governor of Galilee heard of the fame of Jesus. At that time, when his countrymen slighted him, upon the account of his meanness and obscurity, he began to be famous at court. Note, God will honour those that are despised for his sake. And the gospel, like the sea, gets in one... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

14:1-12 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He has been raised from the dead, and because of this, these deeds of power work in him." For Herod had seized John the Baptizer, and had bound him and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, for John insisted to him: "It is not right for you to have her." So he wished to kill him, but he was afraid of the crowd, for they regarded him as a... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - Matthew 14:1-12

(iv) There is Herod himself. He is called the tetrarch. Tetrarch literally means the ruler of a fourth part; but it came to be used quite generally, as here, of any subordinate ruler of a section of a country. Herod the Great had many sons. When he died, he divided his territory into three, and, with the consent of the Romans, willed it to three of them. To Archelaus he left Judaea and Samaria; to Philip he left the northern territory of Trachonitis and Ituraea; to Herod Antipas--the Herod of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:2

And said unto his servants ,.... Those of his household, his courtiers, with whom he more familiarly conversed; to these he expressed his fears, that it might be true what was suggested by the people, and he was ready to believe it himself; this is John the Baptist : some copies add, "whom I have beheaded", as in Mark 6:16 the guilt of which action rose in his mind, lay heavy on him, and filled him with horror and a thousand fears: he is risen from the dead ; which if he was a... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:2

This is John the Baptist - Ον εγω απεκεφαλισα , Whom I beheaded. These words are added here by the Codex Bezae and several others, by the Saxon, and five copies of the Itala. - See the power of conscience! He is miserable because he is guilty; being continually under the dominion of self-accusation, reproach, and remorse. No need for the Baptist now: conscience performs the office of ten thousand accusers! But, to complete the misery, a guilty conscience offers no relief from God - points... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:2

Verse 2 2.And said to his servants. From the words of Luke it may be inferred, that Herod did not of his own accord adopt this conjecture, but that it was suggested to him by a report which was current among the people. And, indeed, I have no doubt that the hatred which they bore to the tyrant, and their detestation of so shocking a murder, gave rise, as is commonly the ease, to those rumors. It was a superstition deeply rooted, as we have formerly mentioned, in the minds of men, that the dead... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-2

Herod's hypothesis. Men's minds were much perplexed about the wonderful life of the new Prophet, and various theories were started to explain it. Here we have the king's hypothesis. This has something in common with the other suggestions, and also a peculiar aptness in regard to Herod himself. I. IT IS NOT EASY TO ACCOUNT FOR JESUS CHRIST . The very variety of the theories shows that the problem was not solved at a glance. It was evident to his contemporaries that our... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

Herod ' s opinion of Jesus, and a parenthetical account of his murder of John the Baptist. Parallel passages: Mark 6:14-29 ; Luke 9:7-9 ; Luke 3:19 , Luke 3:20 . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

The death of John the Baptist. I. HEROD THE TETRARCH . 1 . He heard of the fame of Jesus. Herod Antipas was a weak, cruel, voluptuous tyrant; he resembled his father in his vices, not in his capacity and energy of character. He heard of Christ's miracles; it seems strange if, as the words appear to imply, he now heard of Christ for the first time. For Christ had long been preaching in Galilee; about a year, perhaps more. Great multitudes had flocked to hear him; his mighty works... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Matthew 14:1-12

The ruin of reckless rashness. Note, in introduction, that in an historic point of view this stretch of verses, numbering twelve in our Gospel and seventeen in St. Mark's Gospel, is remarkable for the way in which it gives the information with which it is charged. The same way is identically followed in the parallel of St. Mark; and one not dissimilar in its leading feature in that of St. Luke. As regards the two former, the narrative, starting from tile fact that Herod is startled by the... read more

Group of Brands