Mark 6:20

observed him Rather, as in the margin, kept him, i. e. kept him safe from her machinations. The original word occurs in Matthew 9:17, and Luke 5:38, "they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved."

when he heard him The Greek here is still more emphatic; "and when he heard him, he used to do many things, and used to listen to him gladly. " Not once or twice but many times Herod sent for his lonely prisoner, even as Felix sent for St Paul (Acts 24:26), and listened to him as he reasoned with him of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, and not only listened, but listened gladly;nay more, he "did many things;" many things, but not "the thing." He would not put away his unlawful wife.