Matthew 14:1–12

¹At that time did Herod the tetrarch hear the fame of Jesus, ²and said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist, he did rise from the dead, and because of this the mighty energies are working in him.’ ³For Herod having laid hold on John, did bind him, and did put him in prison, because of Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, ⁴for John was saying to him, ‘It is not lawful to thee to have her,’ ⁵and, willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him. ⁶But the birthday of Herod being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and did please Herod, ⁷whereupon with an oath he professed to give her whatever she might ask. ⁸And she having been instigated by her mother—‘Give me (says she) here upon a plate the head of John the Baptist; ⁹and the king was grieved, but because of the oaths and of those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given; ¹⁰and having sent, he beheaded John in the prison, ¹¹and his head was brought upon a plate, and was given to the damsel, and she brought it nigh to her mother. ¹²And his disciples having come, took up the body, and buried it, and having come, they told Jesus.