Matthew 11:2

Matthew 11:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples,
• New International Version (NIV)When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples
• New King James Version (NKJV)And when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples

Context of Matthew 11:2

1When Jesus had finished giving instructions to His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and to preach in their [Galilean] cities. Now when John [the Baptist] in prison heard about the activities of Christ, he sent word by his disciples 3and asked Him, “Are You the Expected One (the Messiah), or should we look for someone else [who will be the promised One]?” 4Jesus answered, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

Matthew 11:2 word by word

Ὁ δὲ Ἰωάννης ἀκούσας ἐν τῷ δεσμωτηρίῳ τὰ ἔργα τοῦ Χριστοῦ, πέμψας διὰ τῶν μαθητῶν αὐτοῦRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Now whenδέde · thenG1161
• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• JohnἸωάννηςIōannēs · JohnG2491
• had heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• the prisonδεσμωτήριονdesmōtērion · prisonG1201
• the worksἔργονergon · workG2041
• of ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
• he sentπέμπωpempō · to sendG3992
• twoδύοduo · twoG1417
• ofμαθητήςmathētēs · discipleG3101
• hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846

Cross-references for Matthew 11:2

• Matthew 4:12Now when Jesus heard that John [the Baptist] had been arrested and put in prison, He left for Galilee.
• Matthew 14:3For Herod had John arrested and bound him and put him in prison [at the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Jordan, to keep him away] because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,
• Mark 6:17For Herod himself had sent [guards] and had John arrested and shackled in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his [half-] brother Philip, because he (Herod) had married her.
• Luke 3:19But when Herod [Antipas] the tetrarch was repeatedly reprimanded [and convicted by John’s disapproval] for having Herodias, his brother’s wife [as his own], and for all the wicked things that Herod had done,
• Luke 7:18John’s disciples brought word to him [in prison] of all these things.
• John 3:24for John had not yet been thrown into prison.
• Matthew 9:14Then the disciples of John [the Baptist] came to Jesus, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees often fast [as a religious exercise], but Your disciples do not fast?”
• John 3:25Therefore there arose a controversy between John’s disciples and a Jew in regard to purification (ceremonial washing).
• John 4:1So when the Lord learned that the Pharisees had been told that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John
• Acts 19:1It happened that while Apollos was in Corinth, Paul went through the upper [inland] districts and came down to Ephesus, and found some disciples.

Commentaries on Matthew 11:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2John had heard in the prison - John was cast into prison by order of Herod Antipas, Matthew 14:3, etc., (where see the notes), a little after our Lord began his public ministry, Matthew 4:12; and after the first passover, John 3:24.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2The account contained in this chapter of Matthew, to the Matthew 11:19, is found, with no material variation, in Matthew 14:3-4. It is not certainly known why John sent to Jesus. It might have been to satisfy his disciples that he was the Messiah; or he might have been desirous of ascertaining for himself whether this person, of whom he heard so much, was the same one whom he had baptized, and whom he knew to be the Messiah. See John 1:29.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 2-6Verses 2-6 Some think that John sent this inquiry for his own satisfaction. Where there is true faith, yet there may be a mixture of unbelief. The remaining unbelief of good men may sometimes, in an hour of temptation; call in question the most important truths. But we hope that John's faith did not fail in this matter, and that he only desired to have it strengthened and confirmed. Others think that John sent his disciples to Christ for their…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2This section focuses on two main reactions to Jesus: acceptance and rejection. The first part (Matthew 11:2–12:50) shows Jewish leaders rejecting Jesus, while his disciples are learning to understand and accept him.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. Now when John had heard in the prison--For the account of this imprisonment, see on Mr 6:17-20. the works of Christ, he sent, &c.--On the whole passage, see on Lu 7:18-35. The connection of this with what goes before it and the similarity of its tone make it evident, we think, that it was delivered on the same occasion, and that it is but a new and more comprehensive series of reflections in the same strain.Read the comment

Topics related to Matthew 11:2

• Doubting
• Imprisonment
• Jesus, the Christ
• John
• Prisoners

In the dictionaries

• Christ
• Christ, Messiah
• Dungeon
• Easy
• Justify
• Learn
• Lowly
• Meek
• Mighty
• Pipe

Commentaries on Matthew 11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings