Matthew 14:1-12:
14:1In that time Herod the tetrarch heard the thing-heard of Jesus, .2and he said to his servants, “This-person is John the baptizer; he was raised-up away-from the dead-people, and because-of-this the abilities in-work in him”; .3for Herod, having strongly-held John, bound (him) and put (him) away-from-himself in prison because-of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, .4for John used-to say to him, “It is not permitted to you to have her.” .5And intending to kill him he was caused-to-fear the crowd because they used-to have him as a prophet. .6But with Herod’s birthday (celebrations) having come-to-pass the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and she pleased Herod, .7from-which he expressed-agreement with an oath to her to give that-which if-ever she may ask-for-herself, .8but the (daughter) having been caused-beforehand by her mother says, “You must give to me here on a platter the head of John the baptizer.” .9And the king, having been caused-sorrow because-of the oaths and the (people) lying-up-together with (him), commanded to be given .10and having sent he beheaded John in the prison, .11and his head was carried on a platter and was given to the little-girl and she carried (it) to her mother. .12And his learning-disciples having come-towards (there) lifted the fallen (corpse) and buried it, and having come they announced to Jesus.
During that specific season (period of time) Herod the tetrarch heard the thing-heard (the report, what was being said to be heard about Jesus and what he was saying and doing), and he said to his servants… The word translated 'servants' here could also be translated 'children' meaning: those whose relationship was as his children in a very close relationship, and his servants from the work/service relationship viewpoint. “Herod the tetrarch” refers to Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great) who was ruler of a fourth-part of this Roman-occupied province and was subject to the Roman Emperor who was Claudius.
He said to his servants, “This person is John the baptizer (John was known by his occupation which was that he baptized others with water, the baptist); emphatically he has been raised up away from the dead-people, and on account of this the abilities in-work in him (this is the reason why the able-powers, capabilities, presently and actively do work within, produce effects by being in work, energize within him).” By Herod's use of the active voice for the verb "in-work" he shows that he does not understand that it is God Who energizes abilities within His people.
Why would Herod say this? Herod had strongly-held John and bound him (he had exerted his forceful strength and held John and tied or fastened him) and put him away from himself in prison (where he could be watched and guarded) on account of Herodias who was his brother Philip (the first)’s wife, for John was continually saying to Herod (who was living with his sister-in-law), “It is not permitted to you to have her (it is not available to be done by you, it is not possible for you to have her in accordance with God’s viewpoint, you can’t do this according to God’s laws).” And intending to kill him (even though Herod was willing to kill John, to end John’s life at that time) he was caused-to-fear the crowd because they used-to have him as a prophet (he was afraid or in terror of the throng of people because they were holding John in their minds, had the opinion that John was a prophet, one who spoke God’s words to them concerning the past, present, and/or future).
But with Herod’s birthday celebrations having come to pass (when the events taking place because of it being his birthday happened), Herodias’ daughter danced in the middle of all those gathered with Herod, and she pleased Herod (she was agreeable, acceptable or gratifying to him). At that moment Herod agreed with an oath (he assented to, said the same words in agreement with an oath) to her to give that-which if-ever she may ask for herself (should it happen that she would ever ask, as an inferior to a superior, him to give her something for herself). An oath was used to prove something as being undeniable, like a fence that fences-in what is spoken, a confinement, restraint or enclosure of a promise or declaration regarding what you will do or what is true, etc.
But the daughter of Herodias had been caused-beforehand by her mother (before asking Herod for anything she had been urged, prompted, caused to bring forward, made to put, come, lead ahead in her mind relative-to reasoning, thinking, instruction, teaching about this situation by her mother). The daughter says to Herod (she brought to light by her speech) “You must give to me here on a platter (a tray, large plate) the head of John the baptizer.”
And the king (Herod), having been caused to grieve on account of the oaths and the people who were lying-up-together with him (in the eating position, his guests at the festivities), commanded that it would be given to her. He was sorrowful because now he had to kill him even though the people under his rulership considered John to be a prophet and Herod had previously decided not to kill him being afraid of the people; if he killed John then it might cause him problems.
Herod then sent his executioner to carry-out his command and beheaded (decapitated, cut the head away from) John in the prison. And John’s head was carried on a platter and was given to the little-girl and she carried/brought it to her mother, Herodias.
When John’s learning-disciples (students) came to that place, they lifted the fallen corpse (they took and carried the rest of John’s body away from there) and buried it. Then they came to where Jesus was and they announced (related, told the message, reported) what had happened to Jesus.
[Reference: Matthew 11:2 and 9; Mark 6:14-30; Luke 3:1, and 9:7-9.]
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