Luke 9:9

9 And Herod said, I put John to death: but who is this, of whom such stories are given to me? And he had a desire to see him.

Luke 9:9 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:9

And Herod said, John have I beheaded
That is, he had ordered him to be beheaded, and which was accordingly done by the executioner; of which he had full proof, since the head was brought him in a charger, and which he delivered to the daughter of Herodias:

but who is this of whom I hear such things?
such, wonderful things, such amazing miracles, as were done by Christ: he seems to have reasoned after this manner with himself, surely this cannot be John, for I have beheaded him! and yet who should it be? and whereas some affirmed, that it was John that was risen from the dead, he began to fear that it was he;

and he desired to see him:
that he might be satisfied whether it was he or not; for he had had personal knowledge of John, and converse with him, and therefore, upon sight of him, could tell whether it was he that was risen from the dead, or not; but we do not find Herod had a sight of Christ, until he was sent by Pilate to him at Jerusalem; see ( Luke 23:7 Luke 23:8 ) .

Luke 9:9 In-Context

7 Now Herod the king had news of all these things: and he was in doubt, because it was said by some people that John had come back from the dead;

8 And by some, that Elijah had come; and by others, that one of the old prophets had come back to life.

9 And Herod said, I put John to death: but who is this, of whom such stories are given to me? And he had a desire to see him.

10 And the twelve, when they came back, gave him an account of what they had done. And he took them with him and went away from the people to a town named Beth-saida.

11 But the people, getting news of it, went after him: and he was pleased to see them, and gave them teaching about the kingdom of God, and made those well who were in need of it.