Bible Commentaries
Matthew 14

Verse 1

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

The time of this alarm of Herod Antipas appears to have been during the mission of the Twelve, and shortly after the Baptist-who had lain in prison for probably more than a year-had been cruelly put to death.

At that time Herod the tetrarch - Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Matthew 2:22), who ruled as Ethnarch over Galilee and Perea.

Heard of the fame of Jesus - "for His name was spread abroad" (Mark 6:14).

Verse 2

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.

And said unto his servants - his counselors or court-ministers,

This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a spectre, and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers in the person of Jesus.

Account of the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death (Matthew 14:3-12). For the exposition of this portion, see the notes at Mark 6:17-29.

Verses 3-11

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. No JFB commentary on these verses.

Verses 12-21

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

For the exposition of this section-one of the very few where all the four Evangelists run parallel-see the notes at Mark 6:30-44.

Verses 22-36

And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

For the exposition, see the notes at John 6:15-24.