²⁰ for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

²⁶ But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”

⁵ Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

³⁵ John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message.

¹⁸ When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.