Church Fathers Commentary Mark 6:14-16

"And king Herod heard [thereof]; for his name had become known: and he said, John the Baptizer is risen from the dead, and therefore do these powers work in him. But others said, It is Elijah. And others said, [It is] a prophet, [even] as one of the prophets. But Herod, when he heard [thereof], said, John, whom I beheaded, he is risen." — Mark 6:14-16 (ASV)

Glossa Ordinaria: After the preaching of Christ's disciples and the working of miracles, the Evangelist fittingly adds an account of the report that arose among the people.

Therefore, he says, And king Herod heard of him.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: This Herod is the son of the first Herod, under whom Joseph had taken Jesus into Egypt. Matthew calls him a Tetrarch, and Luke mentions him as ruling over one-fourth of his father's kingdom, for the Romans divided his father's kingdom into four parts after his death.

Mark, however, calls him a king, either using his father's title or because this was in keeping with his own desire.¹

Pseudo-Jerome: It goes on, For his name was spread abroad.

For it is not right that a candle should be placed under a bushel. And they said—that is, some of the multitude—that John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show themselves forth in him.

The Venerable Bede: Here we are taught how great the envy of the Jews was. For behold, they believe that John, of whom it was said that he performed no miracle, could rise from the dead without the testimony of anyone. Yet they chose to believe that Jesus—who was approved by God with miracles and signs, and whose resurrection was preached by angels, apostles, men, and women—was carried away by theft, rather than to suppose that he had risen again.²

In saying that John had risen from the dead and that mighty works were therefore at work in him, these people had a correct understanding of the power of the resurrection. For when people rise from the dead, they will have much greater power than they possessed while still weighed down by the weakness of the flesh.

It continues: But others said, That it is Elias.

Theophylact of Ohrid: For John rebuked many people when he said, Ye generation of vipers.

It goes on: But others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

Pseudo-Chrysostom: It seems to me that this prophet is the one of whom Moses said, God will raise up a prophet unto thee of thy brethren (Deuteronomy 18:15). They were indeed correct, but because they were afraid to say openly, "This is the Christ," they used the words of Moses, veiling their own conjecture for fear of their rulers.³

It continues: But when Herod heard of this, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. Herod says this expressly in irony.

Theophylact of Ohrid: Alternatively, Herod, knowing that he had unjustly slain John, who was a righteous man, thought that he had risen from the dead and received the power to work miracles through his resurrection.

St. Augustine of Hippo: In these words, Luke corroborates Mark, at least on this point: that others, and not Herod, first said that John had risen. Luke represented Herod as hesitating and recorded his words as, John have I beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things? (Luke 9:7).⁴

We must suppose, however, that after this hesitation, Herod confirmed for himself what others had said. For, as Matthew relates, he says to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead (Matthew 14:2).

Alternatively, his words could be interpreted as indicating that he is still hesitating. This is especially so since Mark, who had previously said that others declared John had risen, also plainly states that Herod said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. These words can also be interpreted in two ways: either as an affirmation or as an expression of doubt.

1. Vict. Aut. e Cat. in Marc.
2. in Marc., 2, 25
3. Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.
4. de Con. Even., ii, 43