Bible Strands
Matthew 11:2
Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — After Jesus finishes instructing the twelve disciples and begins ministering in their cities, John the Baptist is confined in prison. Hearing reports of Christ’s works, John initiates contact by sending his disciples.
The words — ἀκούσας (akousas) means "having heard," describing John’s reception of news about Jesus’ ministry. δεσμωτηρίῳ (desmōtēriō) denotes the specific location of his confinement, identified as a prison.
The thread — The narrative of John’s imprisonment appears in Matthew 14:3 and Mark 6:17, which specify that Herod arrested and bound him because of Herodias. Jesus’ prior awareness of this imprisonment prompted His withdrawal to Galilee in Matthew 4:12.
Why it lands — The text records John’s factual inquiry rather than his emotional state, requiring the reader to weigh his question against Jesus’ subsequent works. It demands a direct assessment of whether Jesus fulfills the expected messianic role.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
Cross-references
- Matthew 14:3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
- Mark 6:17 For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.
- Matthew 4:12 When Jesus heard that John had been imprisoned, He withdrew to Galilee.
- Matthew 9:14 Then John’s disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Why is it that we and the Pharisees fast so often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
- Luke 7:18 Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things.
- John 4:1 When Jesus realized that the Pharisees were aware He was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John
- Acts 19:1 While Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the interior and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples
- Luke 3:19 But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,
- John 3:24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
- Matthew 1:17 In all, then, there were fourteen generations from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Christ.