Matthew 14:1–12

John the Baptist Beheaded

^1aAt that ¹time ^bHerod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,

²and said to his servants, “^aThis is John the Baptist; ¹he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

³For when ^aHerod had John arrested, he bound him and put him ^bin prison because of ^cHerodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

⁴For John had been saying to him, “^aIt is not lawful for you to have her.”

⁵And although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they were regarding ¹John as ^aa prophet.

⁶But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of ^aHerodias danced ¹before them and pleased ^bHerod,

⁷so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

⁸Now having been prompted by her mother, she ^*said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

⁹And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths, and because of ¹his dinner guests.

¹⁰And he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

¹¹And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

¹²And his disciples came and took away the body and buried ¹it; and they went and reported to Jesus.