Herod was afraid of John because he knew that John was a good and holy man, and so he kept him safe. He liked to listen to him, even though he became greatly disturbed every time he heard him.

The Jewish leaders tried to arrest Jesus, because they knew that he had told this parable against them. But they were afraid of the crowd, so they left him and went away.

Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the Jewish people, because they considered John to be a prophet.

so they tried to arrest him. But they were afraid of the crowds, who considered Jesus to be a prophet.

The teachers of the Law and the chief priests tried to arrest Jesus on the spot, because they knew that he had told this parable against them; but they were afraid of the people.

The chief priests and the teachers of the Law were afraid of the people, and so they were trying to find a way of putting Jesus to death secretly.

So the officer went off with his men and brought the apostles back. They did not use force, however, because they were afraid that the people might stone them.

People came to him from Jerusalem, from the whole province of Judea, and from all over the country near the Jordan River.

They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan.

Which one of the two did what his father wanted?" "The older one," they answered. So Jesus said to them, "I tell you: the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you.

For John the Baptist came to you showing you the right path to take, and you would not believe him; but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. Even when you saw this, you did not later change your minds and believe him.

Tell me, what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes indeed, but you saw much more than a prophet.

I tell you," Jesus added, "John is greater than anyone who has ever lived. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John."

But if we say, 'From human beings,' this whole crowd here will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet."

And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you, then, by what right I do these things."

Many people came to him. "John performed no miracles," they said, "but everything he said about this man was true."