Herod Antipas

1Around that time, Herod heard people talking about Jesus. Herod was a ruler over part of the land.

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

NoteHerod ruled one part of the country for the Romans. The Romans were in charge of the whole land then. Herod was not king of everything.

2He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has come back to life. That is why he can do such powerful things."

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

NoteJohn the Baptist was a preacher who spoke for God. He told people to get ready for Jesus. He dipped people in a river to show they were sorry.

3Earlier, Herod had arrested John. He tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of his brother Philip.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

NoteHerodias had been married to Herod's brother Philip. Then she left him and married Herod. Many people said this was wrong.

4John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have her as your wife."

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

NoteGod's rules said a man must not take his brother's wife. John said this out loud, right to the ruler's face.

5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people messages from God. People listened to prophets carefully. Hurting one would make the crowd very angry.

6On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was very pleased with her.

But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

NoteRich people threw big parties on their birthdays. Dancing was part of the entertainment for the guests.

7So he made a strong promise. He said he would give her anything she asked for.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

NoteAn oath was a very strong promise. You said God's name when you made one. People believed you could never take it back.

8Her mother had already told her what to say. She said, "Bring me John the Baptist's head here on a plate."

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

NoteThe old word here is "charger." It means a big flat dish for serving food at a meal.

9The king was sad. But he had made his promise in front of his dinner guests. So he gave the order.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

NoteThe guests were lying on couches around a low table. That is how people ate at fancy dinners then. Everyone had heard Herod make his promise.

10He sent men to the prison, and they cut off John's head.

And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11His head was carried in on a plate and given to the girl. She took it to her mother.

And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

NoteThe old word for her is "damsel." It simply means a young girl.

12John's followers came and took his body away and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

NoteJohn had his own group of followers before he was arrested. They learned from him and helped him with his work.

14King Herod heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. People were saying, "John the Baptist, the man who baptized people in the river, is alive again. That is why he can do these powerful things."

And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

NoteHerod ruled Galilee for the Romans, and people called him king. John the Baptist dipped people in the Jordan River. That showed they were sorry and wanted to start again.

15Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like the prophets long ago."

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

NoteElijah was a great prophet who lived long, long before. Many people believed he would come back one day.

16But when Herod heard it, he said, "It is John. I had his head cut off. He is alive again."

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

17Herod himself had sent men to arrest John. They tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, and Herod had married her.

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

NoteHerodias had been married to Herod's brother Philip. Then she married Herod instead. John said out loud that this was wrong.

18John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have your brother's wife."

For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

NoteGod's law said a man must not take his brother's wife. John was telling the king he had broken that law.

19So Herodias hated John and wanted him killed. But she was not able to do it.

Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20Herod was afraid of John. He knew John was a good and holy man, so he kept him safe. John's words upset him, and still he liked to listen to him.

For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Note"Observed him" in old English means kept him safe. Herod locked John up but would not let anyone hurt him.

21At last the right day came for Herodias. On his birthday, Herod gave a big dinner. He invited his leaders, his army officers, and the important men of Galilee.

And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

NoteGalilee was the part of the country where Jesus lived. Herod invited the most important men there. A birthday dinner like this went on for hours.

22The daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and the guests eating with him. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want. I will give it to you."

And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

Note"Damsel" is an old word for a young girl. She was probably about twelve years old.

23He made a strong promise to her. "Whatever you ask me for, I will give you, even half my kingdom."

And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

Note"Half my kingdom" was a way of saying "almost anything." Kings said it to show how pleased they were.

24She went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the Baptist."

And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25The girl hurried straight back to the king. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate, right now."

And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

NoteA "charger" was a big flat dish for serving meat. "By and by" in old English means right now, not later.

26The king was very sad. But he had made a promise in front of his guests. So he would not say no to her.

And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

NoteAn oath is a promise made in God's name. People believed such a promise could never be taken back. All Herod's guests had heard him say it.

27Right away the king sent a soldier and told him to bring John's head. The man went and cut off John's head in the prison.

And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

NoteAn executioner was a soldier whose job was killing prisoners.

28He brought the head on a big plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother.

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

29John's followers heard what had happened. They came and took his body and laid it in a tomb, a place for the dead.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

NoteA tomb was a small room cut into rock. A dead body was laid inside, and a stone closed the door.

19John told Herod the ruler that he was wrong. He spoke to Herod about Herodias, the wife of his own brother Philip. John also told him he was wrong for all the other bad things he did.

But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

NoteHerodias had been married to Herod's brother. Herod took her as his own wife. God's law said he must not do that.

20So Herod did one more bad thing on top of all the rest. He locked John up in prison.

Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

7Herod the ruler heard about everything Jesus was doing. He did not know what to think. Some people said John had come back to life.

Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

NoteHerod ruled part of the country for the Romans, who were in charge of the whole land. John was John the Baptist, a preacher who told people to get ready for Jesus. Herod had put him in prison.

8Others said Elijah had appeared. Others said one of the old prophets had come back to life.

And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

NoteElijah was a famous prophet who lived hundreds of years before. The old stories said he did not die like other people. Many hoped he would come back one day. A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

9Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. So who is this man I hear about?" He kept trying to see Jesus.

And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

31That same day some Pharisees came to Jesus. They were men who cared very much about religious rules. They said, "Leave this place. Herod the ruler wants to kill you."

The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

NoteHerod was the ruler of that area. He had the power to put people in prison or kill them.

32Jesus answered, "Go and tell that fox this. 'I am driving out evil spirits and healing people today and tomorrow. On the third day I will finish my work.'"

And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

NoteCalling someone a fox meant they were sneaky. It was not a kind thing to say. The old words say "I shall be perfected." That means his work will be finished.

33"Even so, I must keep going today, tomorrow, and the next day. A prophet cannot be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem."

Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

NoteA prophet was someone who told people what God said. Many prophets had been killed in Jerusalem before.

6When Pilate heard the word Galilee, he asked if the man was from there.

When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

7He learned that Jesus came from the part Herod ruled. So he sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem just then.

And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

NoteHerod was a ruler over Galilee. Rome let him rule that part.

8Herod was very glad to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He had heard many stories about him. He hoped to watch him do a miracle.

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

NoteA miracle is something wonderful that only God can do.

9Herod asked him many questions. But Jesus did not answer him at all.

Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

10The chief priests and the scribes stood there. They kept blaming him in angry voices.

And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

NoteScribes were teachers who studied God's law and copied it out.

11Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus like he was nothing. They made fun of him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

NoteThe fine robe was a joke. Kings wore robes like that, so it made fun of him.

12That same day Pilate and Herod became friends. Before this they had been enemies.

And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

24When the friends heard this, they all prayed together. They said, "Lord, you are God. You made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. You made everything in them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

25Long ago you spoke through your servant David. He wrote, 'Why are the nations so angry? Why do the people make useless plans?

Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

NoteDavid was a king long ago. He wrote many songs and prayers that are in the Bible.

26The kings of the earth get ready to fight. The rulers join together against the Lord. They join together against his Chosen One.'

The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

Note"Chosen One" means the person God picked for a special job. Long ago a person was chosen by pouring oil on his head.

27That is just what happened here against Jesus. Jesus is your holy servant, and you chose him. Herod and Pontius Pilate joined together against him. So did people from other nations and people of Israel.

For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

NoteHerod was a king in that land. Pontius Pilate was the Roman ruler there. The old words say "Gentiles," which means people who were not Jewish.

28They did the very things you had already planned. You decided long before that this would happen.

For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.