Topical Bible: John: Herod Antipas Falsely Supposes Jesus to Be

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In the New Testament, Herod Antipas, the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, is depicted as a ruler who becomes entangled in the events surrounding the ministry of Jesus Christ. Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great, is most infamously known for his role in the execution of John the Baptist. The Gospels recount an intriguing episode where Herod Antipas mistakenly identifies Jesus as John the Baptist resurrected.

This misconception is recorded in the Synoptic Gospels, particularly in the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Matthew. In Mark 6:14-16 , it is written: "Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, 'John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.' Others were saying, 'He is Elijah,' and still others, 'He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.' But when Herod heard this, he said, 'John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!'"

Similarly, Matthew 14:1-2 states: "At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus and said to his servants, 'This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.'"

Herod's belief that Jesus was John resurrected reflects his guilty conscience and fear. Herod had ordered John's execution at the behest of Herodias, his brother's wife, whom he had unlawfully married. John had openly condemned this union, leading to his imprisonment and eventual beheading (Mark 6:17-29). Herod's fear that John had returned from the dead to haunt him underscores his awareness of the moral and spiritual implications of his actions.

The identification of Jesus with John the Baptist by Herod also highlights the widespread recognition of Jesus' miraculous works and the confusion among the people regarding His true identity. While some believed Jesus to be Elijah or another prophet, Herod's specific fear of John’s resurrection indicates the profound impact John had during his life and the lingering influence of his prophetic ministry.

This episode serves as a testament to the interconnectedness of the ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ. John, as the forerunner of the Messiah, prepared the way for Jesus, calling people to repentance and pointing them to the coming Savior. Herod's misidentification of Jesus as John resurrected, therefore, inadvertently acknowledges the continuity and fulfillment of John's prophetic mission in the person of Jesus.

Herod Antipas' role in the New Testament narrative is a cautionary tale of political power entangled with moral failure. His inability to recognize Jesus as the Messiah, coupled with his fear-driven superstition, contrasts sharply with the faith and understanding that Jesus sought to inspire in His followers.

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Matthew 14:1,2
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
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Matthew 16:14
And they said, Some say that you are John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
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Mark 6:14,16
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 show forth themselves in him.
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Luke 9:19
They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.
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Library

Book 13 Footnotes
... did Caiaphas politically advise the Jewish sanhedrim, John 11:50 ... father was also
Antipater or Antipas [which two ... us, though Eusebias indeed says it was Herod. ...
/.../josephus/the antiquities of the jews/book 13 footnotes.htm

Dialogue i. --The Immutable.
... nothing of our nature then He is falsely described as ... born really of a virgin, baptized
by John that all ... the time of Pontius Pilate and of Herod the tetrarch ...
/.../theodoret/the ecclesiastical history of theodoret/dialogue i the immutable.htm