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Luke 9:9
ESV Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.
NIV But Herod said, "I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?" And he tried to see him.
NASB Herod said, 'I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?' And he kept trying to see Him.
CSB "I beheaded John," Herod said, "but who is this I hear such things about?" And he wanted to see him.
NLT I beheaded John,' Herod said, 'so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?' And he kept trying to see him.
KJV And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
NKJV Herod said, “John I have beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” So he sought to see Him.

What does Luke 9:9 mean?

Herod Antipas is the ruler over Galilee—where Jesus primarily performs His public ministry—and Perea, near where John the Baptist preached and baptized. Antipas has likely heard that Jesus healed a leper (Luke 5:12–16), healed a paralytic (Luke 5:17–26), raised a widow's son from the dead (Luke 7:11–17), raised a young girl from the dead (Luke 8:40–56), and enabled His disciples to have the same healing powers (Matthew 10:1; Luke 9:1, 6). When Luke records the women who support Jesus financially, he includes "Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager" (Luke 8:3). It's unclear if Antipas knows he has this close connection to the man who elicits such curiosity.

Though Antipas is confused about the identity of Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus knows exactly who Antipas is. He is the son of Herod the Great, who tried to kill Jesus when He was an infant. He is the man who married his brother's wife and joined her quest for political greatness. He is the man who arrested and killed Jesus' cousin, John the Baptist. For his weak but corrupt character, Jesus calls him a fox (Luke 13:32) and obliquely refers to him as a "reed shaken by the wind" (Matthew 11:7).

After Luke recounts the feeding of the thousands (Luke 9:10–17), which is also associated with the ministry of the Twelve (Luke 9:1–6), he records Jesus questioning the disciples about His identity. First, He asks whom the crowds think He is. The disciples reply: John the Baptist, Elijah, or one of the Old Testament prophets. Then He asks the Twelve whom they think He is. Peter responds, "The Christ of God" (Luke 9:18–20).

Between Jesus' arrest and the crucifixion, Antipas will get a chance to meet Him. Despite his questions, however, Jesus will refuse to answer (Luke 23:6–12). God sent prophets, like John, to ready the people for God's work. If they reject the prophets, they'll reject God (Luke 16:29–31; Acts 7:51–53).
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