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.

¹⁶ The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy.

¹⁷ Daniel answered the king, “Keep your gifts or give them to someone else, but I will tell you what the writing means.

³² You are very entertaining to them, like someone who sings love songs with a beautiful voice or plays fine music on an instrument. They hear what you say, but they don’t act on it!