Matthew 14:5

‘And when he would have put him to death, he feared the populace, because they counted him as a prophet.'

But although he would have liked to have John put to death, he dared not do so, for he was afraid of the disturbance that it would cause among the people. He knew that they believed that John was a prophet, so that to execute him would be looked on by them as sacrilege. And disturbances among the people would not be smiled on by his Roman masters.

Herod both feared and hated John. He wanted him alive, and he wanted him dead. But had he not superstitiously feared him John would no doubt have been dead already. Herod was clearly a weak man filled with conflicting emotions.

‘As a prophet.' Jesus has just referred to Himself indirectly as a prophet (Matthew 13:57). Perhaps there is an intended hint here of what happens to popular prophets in Israel.