But when Herod heard of it, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
De Con. Even., ii, 43: But in these words Luke bears witness to Mark, to this point at least, that others and not Herod said that John had risen; but Luke had represented Herod as hesitating and has put down his words as if he said, “John have I beheaded, but who is this of whom I hear such things?” Or else these words are to be spoken, so as to indicate that he is still hesitating, particularly as Mark who had said above that others had declared that John had risen from the dead, afterwards however is not silent as to Herod’s plainly saying, “It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.” Which words also may be spoken in two ways, either they may be understood as those of a man affirming or doubting.
In Marc., 2, 25: Here we are taught how great was the envy of the Jews. For, lo, they believe that John, of whom it was said that he did no miracle, could rise from the dead, and that, without the witness of any one. But Jesus, approved of God by miracles and signs, whose resurrection, Angles and Apostles, men and women, preached, they chose to believe was carried away by stealth, rather than suppose that He had risen again.There follows: “But others said, that it is Elias.”
Which Herod hearing, said, John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead. It was as if he said, The soul of John has passed into Jesus, and so there, as it were, by rising again, has become more divine, and works such great and stupendous miracles. Luke (ix7) says that Herod doubted at first, but afterwards, on account of the universal fame of the miracles of Jesus, believed that John had risen again in Him. So S. Chrysostom, Theophylact, Augustine, and others. For the opinion of Pythagoras concerning the metempsychosis or transmigration of souls was then very prevalent. S. Chrysostom says, "How great a thing is virtue! for Herod fears even the dead man." For, as Rabanus says, "it is agreed by all that the saints shall have greater power when they rise again." So also Bede.
After the preaching of the disciples of Christ, and the working of miracles, the Evangelist fitly subjoins an account of the report, which arose amongst the people. Wherefore he says, “And king Herod heard of Him.”
It goes on, “For His name was spread abroad. "For it is not right that a candle should be placed under a bushel. “And they said,” that is, some of the multitude, “that John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do she themselves forth in him.”
Vict. Aut. e Cat. in Marc.: This Herod is the son of the first Herod, under whom Joseph had led Jesus into Egypt. But Matthew calls him Tetrarch, and Luke mentions him as ruling over one fourth of his father’s kingdom; for the Romans after the death of his father divided his kingdom into four parts. But Mark calls him a king, either after the title of his father, or because it was consonant to his own wish.
Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.: Is seems to me that this prophet means that one of whom Moses said, “God will raise up a prophet unto thee of thy brethren.” They were right indeed, but because they feared to say openly, This is the Christ, they used the voice of Moses, veiling their own surmise through fear of their rules. There follows: “But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”Herod expressly says this in irony.
For John confuted many men, when he said, “Ye generation of vipers. "It goes on: “But others said, that it is aprophet, or as one of the prophets.”
Or else, Herod, knowing that he without a cause had slain John, who was a just man, thought that he had risen from the dead, and had received through his resurrection the power of working miracles.
