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

¹ In that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report of Jesus, ² And he said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; be was aroused from the dead; and for this, powers are energetic in him.

³ For Herod, having seized John, bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias, his brother Philip's wife: ⁴ For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her: ⁵ And wishing to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, because they held John as a prophet.

⁶ The festivities of Herod's birthday being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. ⁷ Wherefore, with an oath, he agreed to give her whatever she should ask. ⁸ And having been urged on by her mother, Give me, she says, here upon a board, the head of John the Baptist. ⁹ And the king was grieved: but for his oath, and those reclining together at the table, he ordered to be given. ¹⁰ And having sent, he beheaded John in the prison. ¹¹ And his head was brought upon a board, and given to the girl, and she brought to her mother. ¹² And his disciples having come near, took away the body, and interred it; and having come, they announced to Jesus.

¹⁴ And king Herod heard his name; (for it was manifest:) and said, That John the Immerser was raised from the dead, and for this the powers were energetic in him. ¹⁵ Others amid, That he is Elias. And others said, That he is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

¹⁶ And Herod, having heard, said, That John whom I beheaded, this is he; he was raised from the dead. ¹⁷ For this Herod, having sent, took John, and bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife: for he married her. ¹⁸ For John said to Herod, That it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. ¹⁹ And Herodias had a grudge against him, and desired to kill him; and could not: ²⁰ For Herod feared John, knowing him a just and holy man, and he observed him: and having heard him, did many things, and heard him cheerfully.

²¹ And a convenient day having come, when Herod in the festivities of his birthday made a supper to his leading persons,, and to the captains of thousands, and to the first of Galilee; ²² And the daughter of this Herodias, having come in, and danced, and pleased Herod and those reclining together at table, the king said to the little girl, Ask me whatever thou wishest, and I will give thee. ²³ And he swore to her, That whatever thou shouldest ask, I will give thee, even to half my kingdom.

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

²⁵ And having come quickly with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I wish that thou wouldest give me by itself, upon a board, the head of John the Immerser.

²⁶ And the king having been sorely grieved on account of the oaths and those reclining at table together, wished not to refuse her. ²⁷ And quickly the king, having sent a scout, commanded his head to be brought: ²⁸ And he having departed, beheaded him in prison, and brought his head upon a board, and gave it to the little girl: and the little girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ And his disciples, having heard, came and took up his corpse, and put it in a tomb.