What does Mark 6:27 mean?

Herodias has used her daughter to do what she couldn't: manipulate Herod Antipas into executing John the Baptist. Despite what has probably been months of protecting John, and his prior reluctance to harm God's prophet, Antipas reacts immediately.

"Executioner" is from the Greek root word spekoulator. A spekoulator is a Roman soldier with a specific field, like a spy, scout, guard, messenger, or executioner. It's possible the executioner is already in the room, guarding the nobles and military commanders gathered for Antipas' birthday.

As tetrarch, Antipas does not have to hold a public hearing to pronounce such a statement. There are no courts, juries, or lawyers involved. As installed by the Roman government, Herod is a totalitarian leader with the authority to put certain people—non-citizens like John—to deathas he wishes. He is a Gentile leader showing power over a Jewish prophet in a land occupied by the Roman Empire. Ultimately, however, he only does so because his clever wife manipulates him. He has been confronted by a choice between killing John and risking the rebellion of the people, or sparing John and losing the respect of the nobles.

We need to be careful to not put ourselves in a similar predicament. Antipas attempted to hold a delicate balance between interest in the Jewish God and the power and treasures that came with his worldly position. When we follow Christ, we must allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us to the point where we will be completely faithful to God and indifferent to what the world has to offer (Matthew 6:19–24; Romans 12:1–2; 1 John 2:15–17). If God allows us to be blessed on this earth, we should recognize it all belongs to Him for His purposes, and He has the right to take it away (Matthew 6:25-34). We should not secure an honored place in the world by treating our relationship with God lightly.