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

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, ² And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.

³ For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. ⁴ For John said unto him, It is not lawful for you to have her. ⁵ And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

⁶ But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. ⁷ So that he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. ⁸ And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John the Baptist's head on a platter. ⁹ And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them who sat with him to eat, he commanded it to be given her. ¹⁰ And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. ¹¹ And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the girl: and she brought it to her mother. ¹² And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

¹⁴ And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him. ¹⁵ Others said, It is Elijah. And others said, It is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. ¹⁹ Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: ²⁰ For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and holy, and protected him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

²¹ And when an opportune day was come, Herod on his birthday made a supper for his lords, high captains, and chief men of Galilee; ²² And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the girl, Ask of me whatsoever you will, and I will give it to you. ²³ And he swore unto her, Whatsoever you shall ask of me, I will give it to you, unto the half of my kingdom.

²⁴ And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

²⁵ And she came in immediately with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that you give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.

²⁶ And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes who sat with him, he would not reject her. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ And brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl: and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.