Mark 6:14–29

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴King ⁿHerod ^oheard of this, because Jesus’ name ^phad become well known. Some ^qsaid, “John the Baptist ^rhas been raised from the dead, ^sand that’s why supernatural powers ^tare at work ^uin him.” ¹⁵But others said, “He’s Elijah.” ^vStill others said, “He’s a prophet ^w—like one of the prophets.” ^x

¹⁶When Herod ^yheard of it, he said, “John, ^zthe one I beheaded, has been raised!” ^a17For ^bHerod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain ^chim in prison on account of Herodias, ^dhis brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ^e18John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful ^ffor you to have your brother’s wife!” ^g19So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill ^hhim. But she could not, ²⁰because Herod was in awe ⁱof ^jJohn and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous ^kand holy ^lman. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed, ^mnyet would hear him gladly. ^o

²¹Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet ^pfor his nobles, ^qmilitary commanders, ^rand the leading men of Galilee. ^s22When Herodias’s own daughter ^tcame in and danced, ^ushe pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³So he swore ^voaths ^wto her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” ^x

²⁴Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s ^yhead!” she said.

²⁵Immediately she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s ^zhead on a platter ^a—right now!”

²⁶Though the king was deeply distressed, ^bbecause of his oaths ^cand the guests ^dhe did not want to refuse ^eher. ²⁷The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹When his disciples ^fgheard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb. ^h