How long was John the Baptist in prison before being beheaded?

Answer 1

A:The Gospels of Matthew and Mark say that John the Baptist was arrested and beheaded quite early in the mission of Jesus, so he was probably not in prison for any great length of time. Mark 6:14 shows that John was already dead and Herod's conscience bothering him, at a very early time in the mission of Jesus. Luke's Gospel may differ a little because, although John was arrested early, he was in prison long enough to hear of Jesus and send a message asking if Jesus was the one he had prophesied, anticipating a reply.

John's Gospel places the arrest of John some time later (John 3:24: "For John was not yet cast in prison."), but still during the mission of Jesus. By John 10:40-41, it seems that John is now in prison and possibly already dead.

That leaves the first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, as the best source of information on the death of John the Baptist. InBook 18 of

Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus tells us that John the Baptist was imprisoned in the remote fortress of Macherus, out of fear that he would stir up a rebellion among the Jews, and that he was executed there. The cause of his imprisonment was his public criticism of Herod's marriage to his own brother's former wife, which took place in 34 CE, and it appears that John was imprisoned in 35 or early 36 CE:

"

Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Since Josephus makes it clear that Herod had intended both to imprison and execute John, the execution probably took place as soon as possible after John had been taken safely to Macherus, where the Jews had no chance to protest. John was probably not in prison very long at all.