John’s Fate Recalled

14 aAnd King Herod heard of it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “bJohn the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.”

15 But others were saying, “He is aElijah.” And others were saying, “He is ba prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

16 But when Herod heard of it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of aHerodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.

18 For John had been saying to Herod, “aIt is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 aHerodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death and could not do so;

20 for aHerod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; 1but he 2used to enjoy listening to him.

21 A strategic day came when Herod on his birthday agave a banquet for his lords and 1military commanders and the leading men bof Galilee;

22 and when the daughter of aHerodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and 1his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you; up to ahalf of my kingdom.”

24 And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.”

25 Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 And although the king was very sorry, yet because of his oaths and because of 1his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her.

27 Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and had him beheaded in the prison,

28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard about this, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.