Mark 6:14–29

The Death of John the Baptist

^14*Now King Herod^h heard about all this, because Jesus’ reputation had spread everywhere. Some people were saying, “John the Baptist has come back to life! That is why he has this power to perform miracles.”

^15*Others, however, said, “He is Elijah.”

Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”

¹⁶When Herod heard it, he said, “He is John the Baptist! I had his head cut off, but he has come back to life!” ^17*Herod himself had ordered John’s arrest, and he had him chained and put in prison. Herod did this because of Herodias, whom he had married, even though she was the wife of his brother Philip. ^18*John the Baptist kept telling Herod, “It isn’t right for you to be married to your brother’s wife!”

¹⁹So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she could not because of Herod. ²⁰Herod was afraid of John because he knew that John was a good and holy man, and so he kept him safe. He liked to listen to him, even though he became greatly disturbed every time he heard him.

²¹Finally Herodias got her chance. It was on Herod’s birthday, when he gave a feast for all the chief government officials, the military commanders, and the leading citizens of Galilee. ²²The daughter of Herodiasⁱ came in and danced, and pleased Herod and his guests. So the king said to the girl, “What would you like to have? I will give you anything you want.” ²³With many vows he said to her, “I swear that I will give you anything you ask for, even as much as half my kingdom!”

²⁴So the girl went out and asked her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵The girl hurried back at once to the king and demanded, “I want you to give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a dish!”

²⁶This made the king very sad, but he could not refuse her because of the vows he had made in front of all his guests. ²⁷So he sent off a guard at once with orders to bring John’s head. The guard left, went to the prison, and cut John’s head off; ²⁸then he brought it on a dish and gave it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. ²⁹When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body, and buried it.