Luke 23:8

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) He was desirous to see him of a long season.—The vague feeling of wonder had begun soon after the death of the Baptist. (See Notes on Matthew 14:2; Mark 6:14.) It had its beginning in hearing of wonders; it ended in a desire to see one. It was mingled, possibly, with a feeling of bitter enmity which no miracle could remove. (See Note on Luke 13:31.)

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

23:6-12 Herod had heard many things of Jesus in Galilee, and out of curiosity longed to see him. The poorest beggar that asked a miracle for the relief of his necessity, was never denied; but this proud prince, who asked for a miracle only to gratify his curiosity, is refused. He might have seen Christ and his wondrous works in Galilee, and would not, therefore it is justly said, Now he would see them, and shall not. Herod sent Christ again to Pilate: the friendships of wicked men are often formed by union in wickedness. They agree in little, except in enmity to God, and contempt of Christ.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Herod's jurisdiction - Herod Antipas, a son of Herod the Great. This was the same Herod that put John the Baptist to death. Jesus had passed the most of his life in the part of the country where he ruled, and it was, therefore, considered that he belonged to his jurisdiction - that is, that it belonged to Herod, not to Pilate, to try this cause.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. some miracle—Fine sport thou expectedst, as the Philistines with Samson (Jud 16:25), O coarse, crafty, cruel tyrant! But thou hast been baulked before (see on [1735]Lu 13:31-33), and shalt be again.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

See Poole on "Luke 23:1"

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad,.... For though he had been brought up in his country, and had so frequently preached, and wrought miracles there, he had never seen him before; and to have a sight of him, was a great indulgence to his curiosity:

for he was desirous to see him of a long season; perhaps ever since he had heard of his fame, and had entertained a notion that Christ was John the Baptist risen from the dead, whom he had beheaded; and therefore was desirous of seeing him, that he might know whether he was John or not:

because he had heard many things of him; concerning his doctrine, and miracles, and especially the latter; how that he cast out devils, and healed all manner of diseases, and even raised the dead to life:

and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him; which would have still more gratified his curiosity, and have been the subject of further inquiry and conversation.

Geneva Study Bible

And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 23:8-9. The frivolous tetrarch, in an unkingly manner, on the assumption that he had only either to accept or to reject Him,[263] immediately upon the sight of Jesus begins to rejoice at the satisfaction of his curiosity.

ἦν γὰρ θέλων κ.τ.λ.] for from a long time he had been desirous.

On ἐξ ἱκανοῦ, comp. the Greek neutral expressions: ἘΚ ΠΟΛΛΟῦ, ἘΚ ΠΛΕΊΣΤΟΥ, ἘΞ ὈΛΊΓΟΥ, ἘΞ ἘΚΕΊΝΟΥ, and the like; ἘΦʼ ἹΚΑΝΌΝ, 2Ma 8:25.

ἈΚΟΎΕΙΝ] continually.

ἬΛΠΙΖΕ Κ.Τ.Λ.] “ut oculos et animum re nova pasceret more aulae,” Grotius.

ΟὐΔῈΝ ἈΠΕΚΡΊΝΑΤΟ] is to be explained from the nature of the questions, and from Jesus seeing through Herod’s purpose.

ΑὐΤῸς ΔΈ] But He on His part.

[263] Comp. Schleiermacher, L. J. p. 436.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 23:8. ἐχάρη λίαν, was much pleased, “exceeding glad” (A.V[192] and R.V[193]) is too grave a phrase to express the feeling of this worthless man, who simply expected from the meeting with Jesus a “new amusement” (Schanz), such as might be got from a conjurer who could perform some clever tricks (τι σημεῖον).

[192] Authorised Version.

[193] Revised Version.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

8. many things] These words should be omitted (א, B, D, K, L, M).

and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him] Luke 9:7-9, Herod seems to have deteriorated. He had encouraged the visits of the Baptist on less frivolous grounds than these. It must have been a deep aggravation of Christ’s sufferings to be led bound, amid coarse attendants, through the densely crowded streets.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 23:8. Ἡρώδης, Herod) The great and powerful usually have less opportunity of meeting with Jesus: and they are wont to he the last in knowing of the things of the Kingdom of God. The first propagation of the faith as it is in Jesus Christ was, therefore, not due to the instrumentality of the potentates of the world.—[σημεῖον ἰδεῖν, to see a sign) Miserable beings are they who seek in Christ nought save food to minister to the gratification of their natural senses. Such ‘gladness’ as Herod’s is not conducive.—V. g.]

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 8 - And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. This was Herod Antipas, the slayer of John the Baptist. He was at that time living in open incest with that princess Herodias concerning whom the Baptist had administered the public rebuke which had led to his arrest and subsequent execution. Godet graphically sums up the situation: "Jesus was to Herod Antipas what a juggler is to a sated court - an object of curiosity. But Jesus did not lend himself to such a part; he had neither words nor miracles for a man so disposed, in whom, besides, he saw with horror the murderer of John the Baptist. Before this personage, a monstrous mixture of bloody levity and sombre superstition, he maintained a silence which even the accusation of the Sanhedrin (ver. 10) could not lead him to break. Herod, wounded and humiliated, took vengeance on this conduct by contempt." Luke 23:8

Vincent's Word Studies

Of a long time (ἐξ ἱκανοῦ)

See on Luke 7:6.

Hoped (ἤλπιζεν)

Imperfect; was hoping - all this long time.

Miracle (σημεῖον)

See on Matthew 11:20; and compare Acts 2:22, Rev.