Knowing The Word in Luke 9:7-9, Herod is Perplexed by Jesus

Herod Agrippa, the son of Herod the Great, ruled over Galilee. He becomes interested in Jesus as he hears reports about his ministry. Perhaps he hears these reports from Chuza, his household manager, whose wife is a follower of Jesus. Still smarting from having put John the Baptist to death, he is concerned that somehow John has come back to life. Herod, therefore, wants a meeting with Jesus to get some answers.

7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, 8 by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen. 9 Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.

Prayer:

I pray thee, merciful Jesus,

that as thou hast graciously granted me

to drink down sweetly from the Word

which tells of thee,

so wilt thou kindly grant

that I may come at length to thee,

the fount of all wisdom,

and stand before thy face for ever.

Bede, 675-735 (His Ecclesiastical History of the English People, 731, ended with this prayer)