Mark 6:14–27

John’s Fate Recalled

^14aAnd 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.”

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

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

¹⁷For 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.

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

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

²⁰for ^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.

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

²²and 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.”

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

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

²⁵Immediately 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.”

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

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