Did Herod Antipas respect John the Baptist?

Answer 1

A:In the gospel accounts, Herod Antipas held a party in Galilee for the senior men. The daughter of his new wife, Herodias, entranced him with her dancing and he offered to give her anything she wanted. Herodias wanted John the Baptist dead for criticising her marriage to Antipas, after divorcing Philip, so she told her daughter to ask for John's head on a platter. Herod Antipas was loathe to have John killed, but was forced to keep his promise. The gospels suggest that Herod Antipas' reluctance was due to his respect for John.

The historical account, provided by Josephus, is somewhat different. The gospel account is correct in that John the Baptist had publicly criticised Antipas' marriage to Herodias, which took place in 34 CE. But Herod himself had wanted John killed, lest he start an uprising among the people of Galilee. Herod Antipas' respect for John the Baptist was out of fear for the hold he had over the people and the damage John could do by continuing to criticise him. Herod's respect was such that wanted John dead as quickly as possible, in faraway Macherus where the execution could take place without causing a riot. In the historical account, there was no party in Galilee and no head on a platter. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews says:

"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."