A soldier of his guard (σπεκουλατορα). Latin word speculator. A spy, scout, lookout, and often executioner. It was used of …

An executioner.—St. Mark uses a Latin word, speculator, a word which, originally meaning “watchman” or “sentinel,” had co…

Theophylact of Ohrid: The Evangelist Mark, taking his cue from what came before, here relates the death of the Forerunner, s…

Herod was in a quandary, but “because of his oaths and his dinner guests,” he could hardly refuse the girl. Reluctantly he ordered an executioner t…

And immediately the king sent an executioner
(See Gill on Matthew 14:10)

and commanded h…

Herod feared John while he lived, and feared him still more when he was dead. Herod did many of those things which John in his preaching taught him…