When Herod heard of the works of Christ, he was exceedingly troubled. He thought that God had raised John from the dead, and sent him forth with still greater power to condemn sin. He was in constant fear that John would avenge his death by passing condemnation upon him and his house. Herod was reaping that which God had declared to be the result of a course of sin,--"a trembling heart, and failing of eyes, and sorrow of mind: and thy life shall hang in doubt before thee; and thou shalt fear day and night, and shalt have none assurance of thy life: in the morning thou shalt say, Would God it were even! and at even thou shalt say, Would God it were morning! for the fear of thine heart wherewith thou shalt fear, and for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see." Deut. 28:65-67. The sinner's own thoughts are his accusers; and there can be no torture keener than the stings of a guilty conscience, which give him no rest day nor night.

Da Herodes hørte om Kristi gerninger, blev han dybt bekymret. Han troede, at Gud havde oprejst Johannes fra de døde og udsendt ham med endnu større magt til at fordømme synden. Han levede i en bestandig frygt for, at Johannes skulle , hævne sin død ved at nedkalde dommen over ham og hans hus. Herodes høstede det, som Gud havde sagt var følgen af et liv i synd: "et skælvende hjerte, udtære de øjne og en vansmægtende sjæl. Det skal synes dig, som hang dit liv i en tråd; du skal ængstes ved dag og ved nat og aldrig føle dig sikker på dit liv. Om morgenen skal du sige: "Gid det var aften" Og om aftenen: "Gid det var morgen!" Sådan angst skal du gribes af, og så forfærdeligt bliver det, dine øjne får at se." 5Mos. 28,65-67. Synderens egne tanker er hans anklagere; og der findes ingen større pine end at blive naget af en skyldig samvittighed, som ikke lader ham få ro hverken dag eller nat.