Lives of Scripture

Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, ruled as tetrarch over Galilee and Perea throughout Jesus' public ministry. He had imprisoned John the Baptist after John publicly condemned his marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, as unlawful (Mark 6:17-18). Herod feared John, recognizing him as a righteous and holy man, and even 'used to enjoy listening to him,' though it left him 'very perplexed'; he protected John from Herodias's own desire to kill him (6:19-20). At a birthday banquet, however, Herodias's daughter danced and so pleased Herod that he swore before his guests to give her anything up to half his kingdom; prompted by her mother, she asked for John's head on a platter, and Herod, 'although he was very sorry,' honored the oath rather than break faith before his guests, and had John beheaded in prison (6:21-28). Later, hearing reports of Jesus, Herod grew troubled, wondering if this was John raised from the dead, and 'kept trying to see Him' (Luke 9:7-9). That opportunity came during Jesus' trial, when Pilate, learning Jesus was under Herod's jurisdiction, sent Him to Herod, who was 'very glad' and hoped to see a miraculous sign; but Jesus answered him nothing at all, and Herod and his soldiers, with contempt, mocked Him, dressed Him in a fine robe, and sent Him back to Pilate -- an encounter that, Luke notes, turned former enemies Herod and Pilate into friends that same day (Luke 23:6-12).