Death of John the Baptist
1When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus,
2he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”
3For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).
4John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”
5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.
6But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him,
7so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.
8At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!”
9Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.
10So John was beheaded in the prison,
11and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
12Later, John’s disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
14Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.”
15Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”
16When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”
17For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her.
18John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.”
19So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless,
20for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.
21Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee.
22Then his daughter, also named Herodias, came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.”
23He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”
24She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”
25So the girl hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist, right now, on a tray!”
26Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her.
27So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison,
28brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother.
29When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.
7When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
8Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him.