and his enlargement upon Jesus’ answer, the fact that Jesus observed that he answered discreetly, and his significant words, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.
It is interesting to compare the account of Herod’s feast and John the Baptist’s murder as given by Matthew and Mark re- spectively. Mark alone mentions the great banquet and the rank of the guests. He adds the little touches of Salome’s entering in and delighting the guests. He throws Herod’s promise and Salome’s request into dialogue. Where Matthew says simply, He promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask, Mark gives it, Ask of me whatsoever thow wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. The whole narrative is more dramatic than Matthew’s. Matthew says that Salome was put forward by her mother. Mark pictures her going out, and details her conversation with Herodias, and her entering in again with haste, and demanding the horrible boon forthwith. Mark also enlarges upon Herod’s regret: he was exceeding sorry; and where Matthew notes merely his compliance with the damsel’s request, Mark lets us into his feeling of unwillingness to refuse her. Mark, too, emphasizes the promptness of the transaction. Salome de- mands the Baptist’s head forthwith ; Herod sends the exe- cutioner straightway. Mark alone mentions the ewecutioner. While the dialogue is not peculiar to Mark, it is to be noted that it is characteristic of Peter’s style, so far, at least, as can be inferred from the stories in the book of Acts, of Ananias and Sapphira (v. 38-9), Cornelius (x.), and Peter’s deliverance from prison (xii.).
Mark is peculiarly minute and specific as to details of persons, times, numbers, and places ; a feature in which, also, he resem- bles Peter (compare Acts ii. 15; vi. 35 iv. 22; v. 7,23; xii. 4). Thus, of persons, ‘ They entered into the house of Semon and Andrew with James and John” (1. 29): “ Simon and they that were with him followed after him” (i. 36): “In the days of Abiathar the high-priest” (ii. 26): “The Pharisees took coun- sel with the Herodians” (iii. 6): “The woman was a Greek, a Syro-Phenician by nation” (vii. 26). Compare, also, xi. 11;