Matthew 14:1–12

JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED

14At that time^b Herod the tetrarch^c heard the report about Jesus. ²“This is John the Baptist,” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”^d

³For Herod had arrested John, chained^H him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,^{e 4}since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful^f for you to have her.” ⁵Though Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd since they regarded John as a prophet.^g

⁶When Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them^A and pleased Herod. ⁷So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸Prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.” ⁹Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. ¹⁰So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. ¹¹His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹²Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,^B buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.