King James Bible
"But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,"
John the Baptist boldly confronted Herod Antipas, the regional ruler of Galilee and Perea, demonstrating prophetic courage in speaking truth to political power. This reproof recalls Old Testament prophets who risked their lives to call out royal sin. John specifically condemned Herod's unlawful marriage to Herodias, who had divorced Philip to marry his brother—a violation of Jewish law found in Leviticus 18:16. This public scandal represented both personal immorality and religious offense. Beyond the marriage issue, John's rebuke encompassed Herod's broader pattern of corruption and injustice. This comprehensive condemnation shows John's role as a moral reformer addressing systemic wickedness, not merely isolated sins.