and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying,
“John has been raised from the dead”;
others were saying, “Elijah has appeared”;
still others, “One of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
But Herod said, “John I beheaded.
Who then is this about whom I hear such things?”
And he kept trying to see him.
Herod understandably gets excited when he hears that someone like John the Baptist appears. Remember, Herod is the same person who loved to hear John speak. He was intrigued by him. But he had John beheaded because of a promise he made to grant any request after witnessing a splendid dance.
I think Herod was particularly excited because deep down inside he knew that there was something about John that he didn't meet in many people. He saw that there was no guile with him. "Is this new person a resurrected John," he asked himself.
