Matthew 14:1–12

John the Baptist Beheaded

14At that time ^wHerod the tetrarch ^xheard 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 supernatural powers are at work in him.” ^y

³For Herod had arrested John, chained ^zhim, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, ^a4since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful ^bfor you to have her!” ⁵Though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, since they regarded him as a prophet. ^c

⁶But when Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them ^dand pleased Herod. ⁷So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. ⁸And prompted 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, ^eburied it, and went and reported to Jesus.