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 to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is raised from the dead; and on that account the mighty works are performed by him.

³ For Herod having seized John, had bound him, and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. ⁴ For John had said to him, It is not lawful for you to have her. ⁵ And he wished to kill him; but feared the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.

⁶ And Herod's birthday being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod, ⁷ on account of which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask; ⁸ and she, having been put forward by her mother, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist. ⁹ And the king was sorry; but on account of the oath, and those reclining with him, he commanded it to be given. ¹⁰ And he sent and beheaded John in the prison; ¹¹ and his head was brought on a plate and given to the girl, and she carried it to her mother. ¹² And his disciples went and took up the body and buried it, and came and told Jesus.

¹⁴ And Herod the king, heard [of Jesus], for his name was widely known, and said, John the Baptist has risen from the dead; and on this account the mighty works are performed by him. ¹⁵ But others said, he is Elijah; and others said, He is a prophet, like one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But Herod hearing of him, said, This is John whom I beheaded; he has been raised up. ¹⁷ For Herod had sent and taken John, and, put him bound in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife. ¹⁹ And Herodias was displeased with him, and wished to kill him, but was not able. ²⁰ For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he preserved him, and hearing him, did many things, and heard him gladly.

²¹ And on a convenient day, when Herod made a supper in honor of his birthday, for his great men, and the chiliarchs, and the first men of Galilee, ²² the daughter of this Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod, and those that reclined with him. And the king said to the girl, Ask me what you will and I will give it to you; ²³ and he swore to her, Whatever you shall ask of me I will give you, to half of my kingdom.

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

²⁵ And coming in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying, I wish you to give me immediately on a plate the head of John the Baptist.

²⁶ And the king was extremely sorry, but on account of the oaths, and those reclining with him, he was not willing to refuse her. ²⁷ And the king immediately sending an executioner, commanded him to bring his head. And he went out and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a plate, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ And his disciples hearing of it, came and took up his body, and laid it in a tomb.