Matthew 14:2

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} said {G2036} unto his {G846} servants {G3816}, This {G3778} is {G2076} John {G2491} the Baptist {G910}; he {G846} is risen {G1453} from {G575} the dead {G3498}; and {G2532} therefore {G1223}{G5124} mighty works {G1411} do shew forth themselves {G1754} in {G1722} him {G846}.

Complete Jewish Bible

and said to his attendants, "This must be Yochanan the Immerser. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Matthew 14:2, King Herod Antipas, deeply troubled by reports of Jesus' miraculous ministry, expresses to his inner circle his fearful conviction that Jesus is none other than John the Baptist, whom he had unjustly executed, now risen from the dead and supernaturally empowered to perform great signs. This declaration reveals the torment of a guilty conscience and a profound misunderstanding of Jesus' true identity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial narrative interlude within Matthew's Gospel, immediately following reports of Jesus' burgeoning fame and miraculous activities throughout Galilee ([Matthew 14:1](/matthew/14-1 "Matthew 14:1 - Herod Hears of Jesus")). Herod's fearful pronouncement about Jesus being John the Baptist risen from the dead directly precedes and sets the stage for the detailed account of John the Baptist's imprisonment and execution ([Matthew 14:3-12](/matthew/14-3-12 "Matthew 14:3-12 - The Execution of John the Baptist")). This flashback structure highlights the profound impact of John's death on Herod's psyche, demonstrating how past sin can haunt and distort one's perception of present realities, even divine ones. It also underscores the growing recognition of Jesus' power, even by those who oppose or misunderstand Him.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee and Perea, a client king ruling under Roman authority. His fear of a resurrected John the Baptist was rooted in both his personal guilt over John's unjust execution and the popular Jewish belief in the resurrection of prophets or significant figures. At the time, there were various eschatological expectations and beliefs regarding the return of prophets like Elijah or Jeremiah, or even the general resurrection of the righteous. Herod's superstition, combined with his political insecurity and moral depravity (evidenced by his illicit marriage to Herodias, John's condemnation of which led to his arrest), led him to this specific, fearful conclusion. The "mighty works" attributed to Jesus would have been perceived as undeniable signs of divine favor or supernatural power, fitting into the cultural understanding of prophets and divine messengers.
* **Key Themes:** Herod's statement powerfully illustrates several key themes. Firstly, it highlights the **corrosive nature of guilt and superstition**, showing how unaddressed sin can torment the conscience and lead to irrational, fearful conclusions, as also seen in [Mark 6:16](/mark/6-16 "Mark 6:16 - Herod's Fear of John's Resurrection"). Secondly, it underscores the **misunderstanding of Jesus' true identity** by those outside His immediate circle, even when confronted with undeniable evidence of His divine power. Herod acknowledges the "mighty works" but interprets them through his own flawed lens of sin and popular belief, failing to grasp Jesus' unique status as the Son of God and Messiah. Finally, it implicitly affirms the **irrefutable manifestation of divine power** through Jesus' ministry. Even Herod, an adversary, cannot deny the extraordinary nature of Jesus' deeds, which Jesus Himself pointed to as evidence of His messianic identity and the arrival of God's kingdom, as articulated in [Matthew 11:4-5](/matthew/11-4-5 "Matthew 11:4-5 - Jesus' Works as Proof").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **risen (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This verb means "to waken" or "to rouse," whether literally from sleep, from sitting, from disease, or from death. Figuratively, it can mean to rise from obscurity or inactivity. In this context, Herod uses it in the literal sense of being raised from the dead, reflecting his superstitious belief that John the Baptist had been brought back to life. This word is crucial as it points to the concept of resurrection, which, ironically, will be truly fulfilled in Jesus Himself.
* **mighty works (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** Derived from a word meaning "force" or "ability," _dýnamis_ specifically refers to "miraculous power" or "a miracle itself" in this context. It denotes acts that are beyond human capability, manifestations of divine strength. Herod's use of this term acknowledges the undeniable supernatural nature of Jesus' deeds, even if he misattributes their source. These were not mere feats but powerful demonstrations of God's active presence.
* **do shew forth themselves (Greek, _energéō'_):** This verb means "to be active" or "efficient," implying an operative, powerful, and effective manifestation. When applied to "mighty works," it conveys that these miraculous powers are not dormant but are actively at work, expressing themselves dynamically through Jesus. This highlights the palpable and undeniable nature of Jesus' ministry, which compelled even a skeptical ruler like Herod to acknowledge its supernatural origin.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And said unto his servants":** This phrase indicates that Herod's pronouncement was made to his inner circle or court officials, suggesting a private, perhaps desperate, confession of his troubled mind. It reveals his internal turmoil and the weight of his conscience, which he could no longer keep to himself.
* **"This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead":** This is the core of Herod's fearful conviction. Driven by guilt over John's execution and perhaps influenced by popular beliefs about resurrection, Herod concludes that Jesus' extraordinary power must be a sign of John's return from the grave. This statement is a powerful psychological insight into the mind of a man tormented by his past actions.
* **"and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him":** This clause provides Herod's rationale for his belief. He connects the perceived resurrection of John directly to the miraculous power ("mighty works") that Jesus was demonstrating. In Herod's mind, John's return from death would naturally be accompanied by amplified divine power, explaining Jesus' ability to perform such extraordinary deeds. It's a cause-and-effect reasoning, albeit based on a false premise.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several significant literary devices. **Irony** is prominent, as Herod, a powerful ruler, is shown to be terrified by the very prophet he had executed, believing him to be resurrected in the person of Jesus. This highlights the spiritual power of John's martyrdom and the impotence of earthly power against divine truth. There is also a strong element of **Psychological Insight**, as the text delves into Herod's tormented conscience, demonstrating how guilt can distort perception and lead to irrational fear. His internal state is laid bare, revealing a man haunted by his past. Furthermore, the verse serves as a subtle **Foreshadowing**, as Herod's fear of a resurrected prophet inadvertently points to the true, glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, which will ultimately triumph over death and all earthly powers, including those of rulers like Herod.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 14:2 offers profound theological insights into the nature of sin, divine power, and human perception. Herod's reaction underscores the inescapable reality of a guilty conscience, demonstrating how unaddressed sin can lead to spiritual blindness and distorted understanding, even in the face of undeniable divine activity. While Herod correctly identifies the "mighty works" as supernatural, his personal depravity and fear prevent him from recognizing their true source and purpose in Jesus as the Messiah. This highlights the human tendency to interpret spiritual realities through the lens of one's own moral and intellectual predispositions, often missing the profound truth of God's redemptive work. The verse also implicitly affirms the inherent power and authority of Christ, whose miracles were so compelling that even His adversaries could not deny them, though they might misinterpret their meaning.

* [Mark 6:14-16](/mark/6-14-16 "Mark 6:14-16 - Herod's Belief about Jesus")
* [Luke 9:7-9](/luke/9-7-9 "Luke 9:7-9 - Herod's Perplexity about Jesus")
* [Matthew 11:2-6](/matthew/11-2-6 "Matthew 11:2-6 - Jesus' Response to John's Disciples")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Herod Antipas's terrified pronouncement serves as a stark warning about the destructive power of unconfessed sin and a guilty conscience. His inability to escape the haunting memory of John the Baptist, even in the presence of Jesus' divine power, illustrates how unresolved moral failings can corrupt one's perception of reality and hinder spiritual discernment. For us today, this challenges us to honestly confront our own past actions and seek true repentance and forgiveness, lest we too become prisoners of our guilt, unable to clearly see God's work in our lives or the world. Furthermore, Herod's misidentification of Jesus, despite witnessing undeniable miracles, reminds us that acknowledging God's power is not enough; true understanding requires a humble heart open to His truth, rather than filtering it through our preconceived notions, fears, or self-justifications. We are called to move beyond mere recognition of divine power to a genuine recognition of Jesus' unique identity and lordship.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does unaddressed guilt or past sin impact our ability to perceive spiritual truth clearly?**
* **In what ways might we, like Herod, acknowledge God's power but misinterpret its source or purpose due to our own biases or fears?**
* **What does Herod's reaction teach us about the importance of discerning the true identity of Jesus, beyond His miraculous works?**
* **How can we cultivate a heart that is more open to divine revelation and less susceptible to the distortions of guilt or superstition?**

### FAQ
**Why did Herod Antipas believe Jesus was John the Baptist resurrected?**

Answer: Herod's belief stemmed from a combination of overwhelming guilt, popular superstition, and an inability to comprehend Jesus' true divine identity. Having unjustly executed John the Baptist, Herod was tormented by his conscience. When reports of Jesus' extraordinary miracles and growing influence reached him, his guilt-ridden mind projected his fear onto Jesus, concluding that John had returned from the dead, now empowered with even greater supernatural abilities. This was also influenced by contemporary Jewish beliefs that significant prophets could be resurrected or reappear, as seen in the various opinions about Jesus' identity mentioned in [Luke 9:7-8](/luke/9-7-8 "Luke 9:7-8 - People's Opinions of Jesus"). Herod's personal sin and spiritual blindness prevented him from recognizing Jesus as the unique Messiah and Son of God.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Herod's terrified, superstitious belief that John the Baptist had "risen from the dead" and was performing "mighty works" in Jesus represents a distorted, yet prophetic, foreshadowing of the true, glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. While Herod's fear was rooted in guilt and misunderstanding, it unwittingly points to the central truth of the Gospel: that Jesus truly did rise from the dead, not as a haunting spirit or a reanimated prophet, but as the victorious Son of God, declared to be so "by the resurrection from the dead" ([Romans 1:4](/romans/1-4 "Romans 1:4 - Declared Son of God by Resurrection")). Unlike John, whose death marked the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus' resurrection inaugurated a new era of divine power and salvation, conquering sin and death once and for all ([1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20-22 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ as the Firstfruits of Resurrection")). The "mighty works" Herod observed in Jesus were not merely a sign of a prophet's return, but tangible evidence of God's kingdom breaking into the world through His Son, culminating in the ultimate display of power at the empty tomb. Jesus' resurrection is the definitive "mighty work" that "shews forth" God's triumph over all spiritual principalities and powers ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Triumph Over Principalities")). Thus, Herod's fearful misidentification ironically highlights the profound reality of Christ's triumph and the true source of all divine power.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 16:14

And they said, Some [say that thou art] John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.

Mark 8:28

And they answered, John the Baptist: but some [say], Elias; and others, One of the prophets.

John 10:41

And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true.

Matthew 11:11

Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.