And when King Herod heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
This verse shows that the report of the Magi caused turmoil not only in Herod, but also in all Jerusalem. Herod feared that the “newborn King” might threaten his authority, and the people, fearing his cruel disposition, shared his anxiety. Thus, the glad tidings foretold by prophecy became also a trial, revealing the condition of men’s hearts: when God proclaims the coming of the true King, some receive it with faith, and some with fear and “bayonets.”