Luke 9:9

9 and Herod said, `John I did behead, but who is this concerning whom I hear such things?' and he was seeking 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 And Herod the tetrarch heard of all the things being done by him, and was perplexed, because it was said by certain, that John hath been raised out of the dead;
8 and by certain, that Elijah did appear, and by others, that a prophet, one of the ancients, was risen;
9 and Herod said, `John I did behead, but who is this concerning whom I hear such things?' and he was seeking to see him.
10 And the apostles having turned back, declared to him how great things they did, and having taken them, he withdrew by himself to a desert place of a city called Bethsaida,
11 and the multitudes having known did follow him, and having received them, he was speaking to them concerning the reign of God, and those having need of service he cured.
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain.