◄ Mark 6:27 ►
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,
Treasury of Scripture

the king.

Matthew 14:10,11 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison...

an executioner. or, one of his guard. [Spekoulator,] in Latin, speculator, from speculor, to look about, spy, properly denotes a sentinel; and as these sentinels kept guard at the palaces of kings, and the residences of Roman governors, so they were employed in other offices besides guarding, and usually performed that of executioners. As, however, we learn from Josephus, that Herod was at this very time engaged in war with Aretas, king of Arabia, in consequence of Herod's having divorced his daughter in order to marry Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and as this event occurred at an entertainment given at the castle of Machaerus, while his army was on its march against his father-in-law; we are furnished with an additional reason why a speculator, or sentinel, should have been employed as an executioner; and are thus enabled to discover such a latent and undesigned coincidence as clearly evinces the truth of the evangelical narrative.



Context
John the Baptist Beheaded

14And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. 15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. 16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. 17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold on John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. 18For John had said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. 19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: 20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. 21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; 22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said to the damsel, Ask of me whatever you will, and I will give it you. 23And he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give it you, to the half of my kingdom. 24And she went forth, and said to her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25And she came in straightway with haste to the king, and asked, saying, I will that you give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. 26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.
Parallel Verses
American Standard Version
And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Douay-Rheims Bible
But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.

Darby Bible Translation
And immediately the king, having sent one of the guard, ordered his head to be brought. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison,

King James Bible
And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Young's Literal Translation
and immediately the king having sent a guardsman, did command his head to be brought,

Mark 6:26
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