The Death of John the Baptist^(A)

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, because Jesus’^[a] name had become well-known. He was^[b] saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That’s why he is able to do these miracles.”

¹⁵ Others were saying, “He is Elijah.”

Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the other^[c] prophets.”

¹⁶ But when Herod heard about it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised,” ¹⁷ because Herod himself had sent men who arrested^[d] John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom Herod^[e] had married.

¹⁸ John had been telling Herod, “It’s not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John^[f] and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John^[g] was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John,^[h] he did much of what he said.^[i] In fact, he liked listening to him.

²¹ An opportunity came during Herod’s birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee. ²² When the daughter of Herodias^[j] came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He swore with an oath to her, “I’ll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”

²⁴ So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother^[k] replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

²⁵ Immediately the girl^[l] hurried back to the king with her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her. ²⁷ So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John’s^[m] head. The soldier^[n] went and beheaded him in prison. ²⁸ Then he brought John’s^[o] head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s^[p] disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.

Herod Tries to See Jesus^(A)

⁷ Now Herod the tetrarch heard about everything that was happening. He was puzzled because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead, ⁸ by others that Elijah had appeared, and by still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. ⁹ Herod said, “I beheaded John. But who is this man I’m hearing so much about?” So Herod^[a] kept trying to see Jesus.^[b]