John's Knowledge of Jesus' Ministry While in Prison Explained
While imprisoned, John the Baptist heard about the works of Christ and sent his disciples to inquire about Jesus' identity [1]. This event is recorded in Matthew 11:2. John was incarcerated in the prison of Machaerus by Herod, who had arrested him for reproving Herod concerning his marriage to Herodias, his brother Philip's wife [8, 11].
The accounts in the Gospels indicate that John the Baptist's ministry largely preceded Jesus' public ministry, though there was some overlap [7]. John's role was that of a "forerunner" to the Lord, a mission prophesied in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 [4]. His birth, six months before Jesus', was foretold by an angel [4].
From prison, John heard of Jesus' miracles, such as the healing of the centurion's servant and the raising of the widow's son in Nain [8]. These reports prompted John to send his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?" [9]. Some interpretations suggest that John, while in prison, might have been wondering if Jesus was truly the Messiah, especially since Jesus did not act like a powerful warrior-king who would overthrow the Romans, which was a common messianic expectation [9].
Jesus' public ministry in Galilee began after John was imprisoned [7, 10]. Matthew Henry notes that "When he [John] had finished his testimony, then Jesus began his," suggesting a succession in their ministries [10]. This timing highlights that "the silencing of Christ's ministers shall not be the suppressing of Christ's gospel; if some be laid aside, others shall be raised up, perhaps mightier" [10]. John the Baptist, though a pivotal figure, belonged primarily to the "old order," while Jesus initiated the "new" [7]. Both, however, fulfilled God's plan through their arrests and executions [7].
The Gospel of John, written by John the Apostle (not John the Baptist) around A.D. 78-100, primarily focuses on Jesus' life and teachings, particularly those aspects not extensively covered in the other Gospels [3, 6]. This Gospel was intended to supplement the narratives of the Synoptic Gospels and cultivate the spiritual life of Christians [3, 6]. The apostle John, son of Zebedee and Salome, was one of Jesus' closest disciples, often referred to as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" [5, 12]. He is distinct from John the Baptist, who is the subject of the inquiry from prison [2, 4].
Sources
- Matthew “Matthew 11:2 (BSB) — Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: John — (1.) One who, with Annas and Caiaphas, sat in judgment on the apostles Peter and John (Acts 4:6). He was of the kindred of the high priest; otherwise unknown. (2.) The Hebrew name of Mark (q.v.). He is designated by this name in the acts of the Apostles (12:12, 25; 13:5, 13; 15:37). (3.) THE APOSTLE, brother of James the "Greater" (Matt. 4:21; 10:2; Mark 1:19; 3:17; 10:35). He was one, probably the younger, of the sons of Zebedee (Matt. 4:21) and Salome (Matt. 27:56; comp. Mark 15:40), and was born at Bethsaida. His father was apparently a man of some wealth (”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: John, Gospel Of — This Gospel was probably written at Ephesus about A.D. 78. (Canon Cook places it toward the close of John's life, A.D. 90-100.--ED.) The Gospel was obviously addressed primarily to Christians, not to heathen. There can be little doubt that the main object of St. John, who wrote after the other evangelists, is to supplement their narratives, which were almost confined to our Lord's life in Galilee. (It was the Gospel for the Church, to cultivate and cherish the spiritual life of Christians, and bring them into the closest relations to the divine Savio”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: John the Baptist — The "forerunner of our Lord." We have but fragmentary and imperfect accounts of him in the Gospels. He was of priestly descent. His father, Zacharias, was a priest of the course of Abia (1 Chr. 24:10), and his mother, Elisabeth, was of the daughters of Aaron (Luke 1:5). The mission of John was the subject of prophecy (Matt. 3:3; Isa. 40:3; Mal. 3:1). His birth, which took place six months before that of Jesus, was foretold by an angel. Zacharias, deprived of the power of speech as a token of God's truth and a reproof of his own incredulity with ref”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: John The Apostle — was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman on the Lake of Galilee, and of Salome, and brother of James, also an apostle. Peter and James and John come within the innermost circle of their Lord's friends; but to John belongs the distinction of being the disciple whom Jesus loved. He hardly sustains the popular notion, fostered by the received types of Christian art, of a nature gentle, yielding, feminine. The name Boanerges, (Mark 3:17) implies a vehemence, zeal, intensity, which gave to those who had it the might of sons of thunder. [[739]James] The three ”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: John, Gospel of — The genuineness of this Gospel, i.e., the fact that the apostle John was its author, is beyond all reasonable doubt. In recent times, from about 1820, many attempts have been made to impugn its genuineness, but without success. The design of John in writing this Gospel is stated by himself (John 20:31). It was at one time supposed that he wrote for the purpose of supplying the omissions of the synoptical, i.e., of the first three, Gospels, but there is no evidence for this. "There is here no history of Jesus and his teaching after the manner of the ”
- Mark (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Mark 1:14: 1:14-15 This summary introduces 1:14–3:6. Such summaries (see also 3:7-12; 6:6) help hearers understand what follows; most of Mark’s original audience would have heard the Gospel read aloud. 1:14 Jesus’ ministry is described as beginning after John was arrested. There was some overlap (John 3:22-24; 4:1-2), but most of Jesus’ ministry occurred after John’s. John also belongs primarily to the old order (Matt 11:7-14), while Jesus belongs primarily to the new. Both men fulfilled God’s plan through being arrested and executed (Mark 6:14-29; 9:31; 10:33). Jesus began pr”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 11:2: Now when John had heard in the prison,.... The person here spoken of is John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, who was now in the prison of Machaerus; being put there by Herod, for his reproving him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and whilst he was there, an account was brought him by his own disciples, see Luk 7:18 of the works of Christ, the miracles he wrought; as the healing of the centurion's servant, the raising from the dead the widow's son of Nain, and the like; upon hearing of which, he sent two of his disciples, who might be the mos”
- Luke (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Luke 7:18: 7:18-23 The disciples of John the Baptist: See study note on 5:33. John was now in prison (3:19-20), wondering whether Jesus was truly the Messiah, since he did not act like a powerful warrior–king who would overthrow the Romans. In response, Jesus defined his messianic role.”
- Mark (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Mark 1:14: Here is, I. A general account of Christ's preaching in Galilee. John gives an account of his preaching in Judea, before this (ch. 2 and 3), which the other evangelists had omitted, who chiefly relate what occurred in Galilee, because that was least known at Jerusalem. Observe, 1. When Jesus began to preach in Galilee; After that John was put in prison. When he had finished his testimony, then Jesus began his. Note, The silencing of Christ's ministers shall not be the suppressing of Christ's gospel; if some be laid aside, others shall be raised up, perhaps mightier t”
- Matthew (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Matthew 4:11: Now, when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison,.... John was cast into prison by Herod; the reason of it may be seen in Mat 14:3. The prison into which he was cast, according to Josephus (s), was the castle of Machaeras: here he continued some time before he was put to death; for from hence he sent two disciples to Jesus, to know if he was the Messiah, Mat 11:2. Now when Jesus heard of this his imprisonment, he departed into Galilee; not so much on account of safety, or for fear of Herod, but to call his disciples, who lived in that country. (s) Antiq. ”
- John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 21:7: Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved,.... Which was John the Evangelist and Apostle, the writer of this Gospel: saith unto Peter, it is the Lord; which two disciples were very intimate with each other, and communicated their thoughts freely to one another. John knew that it was the Lord, either by some special revelation, or from the multitude of fishes which were taken, and which showed a divine hand and power to be concerned. So faithful ministers of the Gospel know when Christ is with them, by his power attending their ministrations to the conversion of souls. ”