Mark 6:14

King Herod. [Martyrdom of John the Baptist, Mark 6:14-29 = Matt. 14:1, 2, 6-12 = Luke 9:7-9. Major comment: Mark. See The Ministry of Our Lord.] Matthew mentions Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and ruler of Galilee and Peraea by authority of Rome (see on Matt. 2:22; Luke 3:1). Both Matthew (ch. 14:1) and Luke refer to Herod Antipas by his official title, “tetrarch” (see on Luke 3:1). He was “king” only by Roman appointment, and the title “king” was permitted only as a courtesy. He ruled over his territory from the death of his father, Herod the Great, in 4 B.C., to A.D. 39. His mother was Malthace, a Samaritan, who was also the mother of Archelaus (see on Matt. 2:22). His official residence was probably at Tiberias, a city he built on the southwestern shore of the Lake of Galilee and named after the then-ruling Caesar, Tiberius. See p. 64; The Hasmonaeans and the Herods and Palestine Under the Herodians.

Heard of him. The extensive labors of the Twelve during the course of the Third Galilean Tour were evidently sufficient to call widespread attention to Jesus and His work, and to stir the fear of Herod that Jesus was John risen from the dead. Whereas on the two previous evangelistic expeditions there had been but one group going from village to village, now there were seven. Evidently the reports coming to Herod, from all quarters, revealed a rapid extension of the gospel. Whereas in the past Jesus may have appeared to the authorities to be no more than a solitary itinerant preacher accompanied by a motley group of followers, it was now evident that He represented a far larger movement. Herod could no longer help hearing of him.

John the Baptist was risen. It seems to have been superstition combined with a guilty conscience that led Herod to this conclusion.

Mighty works. See p. 208. John had performed no miracles (John 10:41).