Matthew 14:2

“And said unto his servants, etc.] Those of his household, his courtiers, with whom he more familiarly conversed; to these he expressed his fears, that it might be true what was suggested by the people, and he was ready to believe it himself; this is John the Baptist: some copies add, “whom I have beheaded”, as in (<410616>Mark 6:16) the guilt of which action rose in his mind, lay heavy on him, and filled him with horror and a thousand fears: he is risen from the dead; which if he was a Sadducee, as he is thought to be, by comparing (<401606>Matthew 16:6) with (<410815>Mark 8:15) was directly contrary to his former sentiments, and was extorted from him by his guilty conscience; who now fears,…”

“And said unto his servants--his counsellors or court-ministers. This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, &c.--The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers in the person of Jesus. Account of the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death (Mat 14:3-12). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mar 6:17-29.”

“This is John the Baptist - Herod feared John. His conscience smote him for his crimes. He remembered that he had wickedly put him to death. He knew him to be a distinguished prophet; and he concluded that no other one was capable of working such miracles but he who had been so eminent a servant of God in his life, and who, he supposed, had again risen from the dead and entered the dominions of his murderer. The alarm in his court, it seems, was general. Herod’s conscience told him that this was John. Others thought that it might be the expected Elijah or one of the old prophets, Mark 6:15. return to 'Top of Page'”

“He is risen from the dead - Herod was a Sadducee: and the Sadducees denied the resurrection of the dead. But Sadduceeism staggers when conscience awakes. Matthew 14:3”

“14:2 There was a rumor that John had been resurrected (see 16:14).”

“This: Mat 11:11, Mat 16:14; Mar 8:28; Joh 10:41 do show forth themselves in him: or, are wrought by him Matthew 14:3”