Although Herod wanted to kill John to silence him, he was afraid of the crowd and public opinion because they regarded John as a genuine prophet of God.
Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
NMVThen behold Herod [heroic] wished to kill him, but he feared the people who believed that Yochanan [Yah is gracious] was a prophet among them.
OJBAnd [although] Herod was desiring to kill Yochanan, he feared the crowd, because they considered Yochanan a Navi.
TCENTAlthough Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
T4THerod wanted to have John executed, but he was afraid that the people who had accepted what John taught would riot if he did that, because they believed that John was a prophet.