Matthew 14:1

Matthew 14:1
←  13:36 14:2  →
Book	Gospel of Matthew
Christian Bible part	New Testament

Matthew 14:1 is the first verse in the fourteenth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew in the New Testament.

Content

In the original Greek according to Westcott-Hort, this verse is:

Ἐν ἐκείνῳ τῷ καιρῷ ἤκουσεν Ἡρῴδης ὁ τετράρχης τὴν ἀκοὴν Ἰησοῦ,

In the King James Version of the Bible the text reads:

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

The New International Version translates the passage as:

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,

Analysis

Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great, who had killed the innocent children. The "tetrarch" refers to the fact that he ruled one-fourth of the kingdom of the Jews. He was appointed by the Romans. Some commentators speculate as to why Herod did not learn of Jesus until later in his ministry. A possible reason seems to be such a harsh ruler's lack of interest in religious affairs and the war against Aretas, king of Arabia, which likely occupied his attention. ^{[1] [2]}

Commentary from the Church Fathers

Glossa Ordinaria: "The Evangelist had above shown the Pharisees speaking falsely against Christ’s miracles, and just now His fellow-citizens wondering, yet despising Him; he now relates what opinion Herod had formed concerning Christ on hearing of His miracles, and says, At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus." ^[3]

Chrysostom: "It is not without reason that the Evangelist here specifies the time, but that you may understand the pride and carelessness of the tyrant; inasmuch as he had not at the first made himself acquainted with the things concerning Christ, but now only after long time. Thus they, who in authority are fenced about with much pomp, learn these things slowly, because they do not much regard them." ^[3]

Augustine: "Matthew says, At that time, not, On that day, or, In that same hour; for Mark relates the same circumstances, but not in the same order. He places this after the mission of the disciples to preach, though not implying that it necessarily follows there; any more than Luke, who follows the same order as Mark." ^[3]

References

1. Robert Witham, Annotations on the New Testament of Jesus Christ, Dublin: 1730.
2. John MacEvilly, An Exposition of the Gospel of St. Matthew consisting of an analysis of each chapter and of a Commentary critical, exegetical, doctrinal and moral, chapter 14, Dublin, Gill & Son 1879.
3. Thomas Aquinas, ed. (1874). "Catena Aurea: commentary on the four Gospels; collected out of the works of the Fathers. Oxford: Parker". This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain .

External links

• Other translations of Matthew 14:1 at BibleHub

Preceded by Matthew 13

Gospel of Matthew Chapter 14

Succeeded by Matthew 14:2