Studies 1 to 3
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PER163
Death of John the Baptist
Pericope 163 analyzes Herod Antipas's reaction to the fame of Jesus, whom he identifies with John the Baptist risen from the dead. Through a synoptic comparison of Matthew 14.1-2, Mark 6.14-16 and Luke 9.7-9, the article explores the convergences and differences between the three accounts, the political context in Galilee in March AD 32, and the weight of Herod's guilt after the murder of John the Baptist.
Matthew 14.1-2 (King James Version) :At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,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.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER164
Recalling the arrest of John the Baptist
Pericope PER164 recalls the circumstances of John the Baptist's arrest, as recounted by Matthew (14.3-5) and Mark (6.17-20). John was imprisoned for publicly denouncing the unlawful marriage of Herod Antipas to Herodias, the former wife of his brother. Mark offers a nuanced portrait of Herod, ambivalent and fascinated by John, whereas Matthew stresses his fear of the crowd. It is Herodias who pushes for the prophet's death; he was held at Machaerus in March AD 32.
Matthew 14.3-5 (King James Version) :For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org -
PER165
Reminder of the circumstances of the murder of John the Baptist
Pericope 165 analyzes the circumstances of the murder of John the Baptist according to Matthew (14.6-12) and Mark (6.21-29). In Galilee, in March AD 32, Herod Antipas yields to the manipulation of Herodias through Salome's dance and has the prophet beheaded. The article highlights the parallel between the martyrdom of John and that of Jesus, two messianic figures unjustly condemned and laid in a tomb.
Matthew 14.1-12 (King James Version) :At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,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.For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org