Herod Thinks Jesus Is John the Baptizer^(A)

¹⁴ King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, “He is John the Baptizer. He must have risen from death, and that is why he can do these miracles.”

¹⁵ Other people said, “He is Elijah.”

And others said, “He is a prophet. He is like the prophets who lived long ago.”

¹⁶ Herod heard these things about Jesus. He said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!”

How John the Baptizer Was Killed

¹⁷ Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison. Herod did this to please his wife Herodias. She had been married to Herod’s brother Philip, but then Herod married her. ¹⁸ John told Herod, “It is not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias hated John. She wanted him dead, but she was not able to persuade Herod to kill him. ²⁰ Herod was afraid to kill John, because he knew that he was a good and holy man. So he protected him. He liked listening to John, although what John said left him with so many questions.

²¹ Then the right time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. It happened on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased.

So King Herod said to the girl, “I will give you anything you want.” ²³ He promised her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you—even half of my kingdom.”

²⁴ The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask King Herod to give me?”

Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

²⁵ So right then the girl went back in to the king. She said to him, “Please give me the head of John the Baptizer. Bring it to me now on a plate.”

²⁶ King Herod was very sad, but he didn’t want to break the promise he had made to her in front of his guests. ²⁷ So he sent a soldier to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier went and cut off John’s head in the prison. ²⁸ He brought the head back on a plate and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ John’s followers heard about what happened, so they came and got John’s body and put it in a tomb.

Herod Is Confused About Jesus^(A)

⁷ Herod the ruler heard about all these things that were happening. He was confused because some people said, “John the Baptizer has risen from death.” ⁸ Others said, “Elijah has come to us.” And some others said, “One of the prophets from long ago has risen from death.” ⁹ Herod said, “I cut off John’s head. So who is this man I hear these things about?” Herod continued trying to see Jesus.