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BACKGROUND FOR THIS EPISODE

(In Order of Appearance)

 NEW TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE:
  • Luke 22:66-69 – When morning came, the elders of the people, the most important priests, and the teachers of the law all came together. They led Jesus away to their Jewish Council.o 67They said, “Since you claim that you are the Messiah, tell us that you are!” Jesus said to them, “If I were to tell you that I am the Messiah, you would never believe it. 68And if I were to ask you, you wouldn’t answer. 69But I will sit at the right side of God’s throne—from now on!”
  • John 18:28-29 – 
  • Luke 23:1-8 – Then the whole group stood up and led Jesus to Pilate. 2They began to accuse Jesus. They said, “We caught this man telling things which were confusing our people. He says we should stop paying taxes to Caesar. He calls himself the Messiah, a king.” 3Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered him, “Yes, you are the one who says it.” 4Pilate said to the most important priests and to the crowds, “I find nothing wrong with this man.” 5They said again and again, “But Jesus is making trouble with the people! He teaches all over Judea. He began in Galilee, and now he is here!” 6Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus were from Galilee. 7Pilate learned that Jesus was under the jurisdiction of Herod Antipas. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. So, Pilate sent Jesus over to him. 8When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad. Herod had heard all about Jesus. For a long time, he had been wanting to meet Jesus. Herod wanted to see a miracle. He was hoping that Jesus would work one. 
  • Luke 1:30-31, 36, 60 – The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God has blessed you. 31Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. And, you will name him Jesus…36Now listen to this: You know that Elizabeth, your relative, is very old, but she is already pregnant with a son. The woman who could not have a baby has been pregnant for six months!…60But his mother said, “No! He will be called John, instead.”
  • Matthew 14:1-5 – At that time, Herod Antipas, the ruler, heard the report about Jesus. 2He said to his servants, “This is John (the one who immersed people)! He has come back to life! That is why these powers are working in him.” 3Before this time, Herod had ordered his men to arrest John, to tie him up, and to put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’sa wife. 4John had been saying to Herod, “It is not right for you to have her!” 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the crowd. (The people thought of John as a prophet.) 
  • Mark 6:16-20 – When Herod heard this, he was thinking, “I cut off John’s head; he must have been raised to life.” 17Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in jail. He did this because of Herodias. Herod had married her, even though she was the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.c 18John was always saying this to Herod: “It is not right for you to have your brother’s wife!” 19So, Herodias held a grudge against John. She wanted to kill him, but she was not able to, 20because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a good, holy man. So, he protected John. When Herod heard John proclaim, Herod was in doubt about many things, but Herod liked to listen to John. 
  • Matthew 14:9-10 – The king was very sad, but, because of the vow and the guests, Herod ordered that it be done. 10He sent some men to the prison to cut off John’s head. 
  • Luke 23:9 – Herod asked Jesus many questions, but Jesus wouldn’t answer him at all. 
  • Luke 13:31-32 – At that time, some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Go away from here and hide! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!” 32Jesus said to them, “Go tell that fox:f ‘Listen, today and tomorrow, I am throwing out demons and finishing my work of healing. Then, the next day, my tasks will be finished. 
  • Luke 23:10 – The important priests and the teachers of the law stood there. They continued to accuse Jesus. They were very excited. 
OLD TESTAMENT OF THE BIBLE:
  • Exodus 3:14-15 – Then the Always-Present One, God, said to the snake, “Because you have done this thing, you are banished from all livestock and all wild animals. From now on, you will crawl on your belly, and you will have to eat dirt as long as you live. 15I will put hostility between you and the woman, between your children and her child.k Although her child will crush your head, you will bite his heel.”l
  • Isaiah 50:6-7 – I offered my back to those who beat me.s I offered my cheekst to those who pulled my beard.u I won’t hide my face from them, when they make fun of me and spit on me.v 7The Lord Yahweh helps me.w So, I will not be ashamed.I will be very determined. I know I will not be disgraced.x

OTHER JESUS QUOTES IN THIS EPISODE

FLAVIUS JOSEPHUS
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK 14, 7:3; BK 17, 3:1; 8:1 – Herod the Great’s father was Idumean (Edomite) and his mother Jewish.  Herod the Great married a Samaritan woman who bore him Archelaus [who ruled when Jesus came out of Egypt and was banished when Jesus was 12], and his brother Antipas who became procurator of Galilee. 
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 17, 8:1 – When he [Herod the Great] had done these things, he died…having reigned…since he had been declared king by the Romans, thirty-seven [years].
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK 15, 7:4,5; BK 16, 11:7 – She [Miriamne] showed her contempt of him…that he had caused her grandfather and her brother to be slain….She went to her death unshaken…and without changing the colour of her face….Alexander and Aristobulus were brought…by their father’s command and strangled.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK 17, 7:7 – Hereupon Herod…cried out, and beat his head, although he was at death’s door, and raised himself upon his elbow, and…commanded them to kill Antipater.
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 17, 8:1 – And now Herod [the Great] altered his testament upon the alteration of his mind; for he appointed Antipas [son Herod] to be tetrarch of Galilee and Berea, and granted the kingdom to Archelaus [Antipas’ brother].
  • ANTIQUITIES OF THE JEWS, BK. 18, 7:1-2 – [Brother-in-law Agrippa] fled away from his creditors by sea, he now returned a king….[Herod went] to Rome…for the obtaining of a kingdom….[Caesar] Caius took away from him his tetrarchy…also gave Herod’s money…a perpetual banishment…Gaul.

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