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

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus, ² told his servants, "This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that's why these miracles are being done by him."

³ Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. ⁴ John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." ⁵ Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John as a prophet.

⁶ But when Herod's birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. She pleased Herod ⁷ so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist." ⁹ Under pressure because of his promises and his assembled guests, the king ordered that it be done. ¹⁰ So he sent word and had John beheaded in prison. ¹¹ His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. ¹² When John's disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, because Jesus' name had become well-known. He was 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 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 John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom Herod 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 and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, he did much of what he said. 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 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 replied, "The head of John the Baptist."

²⁵ Immediately the girl 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 head. The soldier went and beheaded him in prison. ²⁸ Then he brought John's head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John's disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.