Matthew 14:12 - Exposition

And his disciples came. "And when his disciples heard thereof, they came" (Mark). Perhaps they were not permitted to be so much with him as at an earlier period in his imprisonment ( Matthew 11:2 ). But if the murder was in the evening, as would appear probable from the circumstances of it, they would naturally not be in the castle at the time. And took up the body; the corpse (Revised Version, τὸ πτῶμα ). And buried it; him, (Revised Version, αὐτόν ) . It is right in Mark, but St. Matthew has preserved the more popular form of expression. And (Revised Version adds they ) went and told Jesus. Matthew only. In Mark ( Mark 6:30 ; cf. also Luke 9:10 ) this expression dearly belongs to the next paragraph, and is predicated of the twelve apostles on their return from their mission ( Mark 6:7-12 ; our Matthew 10:5 ). It looks as though some confusion had arisen in the source before St. Matthew used it. As the words stand here they show the kindly feelings which both John and his disciples felt towards our Lord