And indicates that the discourse is continuing. In some languages it can be dropped, and in others it can be rendered “After that.”

His disciples are obviously “John’s disciples,” and a number of modern translations are explicit. Here again, the many pronouns of the Greek text will prove confusing if sufficient caution is not taken.

Came may have to be “went” or even “went to the prison.”

The body may be translated “John’s body” or “his body.”

Both Mark and Matthew mention that John’s disciples carried away his body and buried it, but only Matthew indicates that they went and told Jesus. In some languages it may be necessary to indicate what they told Jesus, as in Die Bibel im heutigen Deutsch: “then they went to Jesus and told him what had happened.” It is also possible to translate “… what had happened to John” or “… that Herod had had John beheaded.”

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Stine, Philip C. A Handbook on the Gospel of Matthew. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1988. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .