Matthew 14:1-12 - Herod Kills John The Baptist

¹ And at that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus, ² and he said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore miracles are wrought in him.

³ For Herod having arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip. ⁴ For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. ⁵ And wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they esteemed him as a prophet.

⁶ Herod's birthday being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod; ⁷ consequently with an oath he promised to give to her whatsoever she might ask. ⁸ And being instigated by her mother, she says, Give me the head of John the Baptist here in a charger. ⁹ And the king was grieved; nevertheless on account of his oaths, and those who were sitting with him, he commanded it to be given. ¹⁰ And sending, he beheaded John in prison; ¹¹ and his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. ¹² And His disciples, having come, took the body, and buried it; and having come they proclaimed it to Jesus.

¹⁴ And king Herod heard; for His name became known: and said, John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works are wrought in Him. ¹⁵ And others continued to say, That He is Elijah; and others continued to say that He is a prophet, indeed one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But Herod hearing said, That, He is John, whom I beheaded; He is risen from the dead. ¹⁷ For Herod himself having sent, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip: because he married her. ¹⁸ For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have the wife of thy brother. ¹⁹ And Herodias hated him, and wished to kill him; and was not able; ²⁰ for Herod was afraid of John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and he continued to hold him in prison: and hearing him, he continued to do many things, and he was hearing him gladly.

²¹ And it being a high day, when Herod on his birthday made a feast to his mighty men, and chiliarchs, and the first men of Galilee; ²² and the daughter of Herodias herself, having come in and danced, and pleased Herod and those sitting with him; the king said to the damsel. Ask what you may wish, and I will give it to you. ²³ And he promised her, I will give you whatsoever you may ask, even unto the half of my kingdom.

²⁴ And having gone out, she said to her mother, What shall I ask And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

²⁵ And she having come in to the king, immediately with haste asked him, saying; I wish, that you may give to me immediately, the head of John the Baptist in a charger.

²⁶ And the king being grieved exceedingly; on account of his oaths, and those sitting with him, was not willing to reject her. ²⁷ And the king immediately sending forth a soldier of his guard, commanded that his head should be brought. ²⁸ And having departed, he beheaded him in prison: and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. ²⁹ And his disciples having heard, came and took his body, and put it in a sepulcher.