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

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus. ² And he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead. That is why miraculous powers are working through him."

³ For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip, ⁴ since John had told him, "You have no right to her." ⁵ He was anxious to kill him but he was afraid of the people, for they held John to be a prophet.

⁶ However, on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in public to the delight of Herod; ⁷ whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted. ⁸ And she, at the instigation of her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head this moment on a dish." ⁹ The king was sorry, but for the sake of his oath and his guests he ordered it to be given her; ¹⁰ he sent and had John beheaded in the prison, ¹¹ his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. ¹² His disciples came and removed the corpse and buried him; then they went and reported it to Jesus.

¹⁴ Now this came to the hearing of king Herod, for the name of Jesus had become well known; people said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, that is why miraculous powers are working through him;" ¹⁵ others said, "It is Elijah," others again, "It is a prophet, like one of the old prophets."

¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it he said, "John has risen, the John I beheaded." ¹⁷ For this Herod had sent and arrested John and bound him in prison on account of his marriage to Herodias the wife of his brother Philip; ¹⁸ John had told Herod, "You have no right to your brother's wife." ¹⁹ Herodias had a grudge against him; she wanted him killed but she could not manage it, ²⁰ for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing he was a just and holy man; so he protected John ??he was greatly exercised when he listened to him, still he was glad to listen to him.

²¹ Then came a holiday, when Herod held a feast on his birthday for his chief officials and generals and the notables of Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias went in and danced to them, and Herod and his guests were so delighted that the king said to the girl, "Ask anything you like and I will give you it." ²³ He swore to her, "I will give you whatever you want, were it the half of my realm."

²⁴ So she went out and said to her mother, "What am I to ask?" "John the Baptizer's head," she answered.

²⁵ Then she hurried in at once and asked the king, saying, "I want you to give me this very moment John the Baptist's head on a dish."

²⁶ The king was very vexed, but for the sake of his oaths and his guests he did not like to disappoint her; ²⁷ so the king at once sent one of the guard with orders to bring his head. The man went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a dish, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard of it they went and fetched his body and laid it in a tomb.