Matthew 14:1-2

"At that time" is again a loose connective not intended to communicate chronological sequence necessarily. Herod Antipas lived primarily at Tiberias on the west shore of Lake Galilee. [Note: Carson, "Matthew," p. 337.] However if all the events described in this story happened on one day, as seems likely, they must have taken place at Herod’s residence at the Machaerus fortress, in southern Perea east of the Jordan River. [Note: See Harold W. Hoehner, Herod Antipas, pp. 146-48.] Antipas ruled over Galilee and Perea from 4 B.C. to A.D. 39, namely, during Jesus’ entire earthly life. Word about Jesus’ ministry reached him easily there (cf. Luke 8:3). Herod had previously beheaded John for criticizing his morality (Matthew 14:3-12). Herod could do this because John had ministered within Herod’s jurisdiction of Perea (John 1:28). Public opinion evidently encouraged Herod to conclude that Jesus was John who had come back to life (cf. Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7). He attributed Jesus’ miracles to the supposedly resurrected John.

"The idea of a ghostly or even physical return of someone who has had a special influence, especially if that influence has been prematurely cut off by violent death, is found in various cultures (think of Elijah, Nero, King Arthur, Elvis)." [Note: France, The Gospel . . ., p. 553.]