Matthew 14:1-3

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 14:1

f3 At that time Herod the tetrarch,.... Not Herod the Great, in whose reign Christ was born, and who slew the infants of Bethlehem, but his son; this was, as the Jewish chronologer F3 David Ganz. Tzemach David, par. 1. fol. 25. 2. and so in Juchasin, fol. 142. 2. rightly observes, "Herod Antipater, whom they call טיתרקי , "the tetrarch"; the son of Herod the First, and brother of Archelaus, and the third king of the family of Herod.' And though he is here called a "tetrarch", he is... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Matthew 14:3

For Herod had laid hold on John ,.... By his servants, whom he sent to apprehend him: and bound him ; laid him in chains, as if he was a malefactor; and put him in prison , in the castle of Machaerus F4 Joseph. Antiqu. 1. 18. c. 7. , for Herodias's sake ; who was angry with him, had a bitter quarrel against him, and by whose instigation all this was done; who was his brother Philip's wife . This Herodias was the daughter of Aristobulus, son to Herod the Great F5 Ib.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1

Herod the tetrarch - This was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. See the notes on Matthew 2:1 , where an account is given of the Herod family. The word tetrarch properly signifies a person who rules over the fourth part of a country; but it is taken in a more general sense by the Jewish writers, meaning sometimes a governor simply, or a king; see Matthew 14:9 . The estates of Herod the Great were not, at his death, divided into four tetrarchies, but only into three: one was given... 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:3

For Herodias' sake - This infamous woman was the daughter of Aristobulus and Bernice, and grand-daughter of Herod the Great. Her first marriage was with Herod Philip, her uncle, by whom she had Salome: some time after, she left her husband, and lived publicly with Herod Antipas, her brother-in-law, who had been before married to the daughter of Aretas, king of Arabia Petraea. As soon as Aretas understood that Herod had determined to put away his daughter, he prepared to make war on him: the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Matthew 14:1

Verse 1 The reason why the Evangelists relate this occurrence is, to inform us that the name of Christ was universally celebrated, and, therefore, the Jews could not be excused on the plea of ignorance. Many might otherwise have been perplexed by this question, “How came it that, while Christ dwelt on the earth, Judea remained in a profound sleep, as if he had withdrawn into some corner, and had displayed to none his divine power?” The Evangelists accordingly state, that the report concerning... read more

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