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

¹ At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus, ² and said to his servants, This is John the baptist, he is certainly risen from the dead, and therefore miraculous things are done by him:

³ for Herod had apprehended John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; ⁴ for John said to Him, It is not lawful for thee to have her: and he would have put him to death, ⁵ but that he was afraid of the people; for they esteemed him as a prophet.

⁶ But when Herod's birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod, so ⁷ that he promised her with an oath to give her whatever she would ask: ⁸ and she, being before instructed by her mother, said, Give me here in a dish the head of John the baptist: ⁹ at which the king was distressed, but because of his oath, and of those who sat at table with him, he ordered it to be given her; ¹⁰ and he sent and beheaded John in the prison, ¹¹ and his head was brought in a dish, and given to the young princess, who carried it to her mother: ¹² and his disciples came and took up the body and buried it, and then went and told Jesus.

¹⁴ And king Herod heard of Him, (for his name was spread abroad,) and he said, John the baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore miraculous powers appear in him. ¹⁵ Others said, it is Elias: and others said, it is a prophet, or like one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But when Herod heard of Him, he said, it is John whom I beheaded, he is risen from the dead. ¹⁷ For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her: ¹⁸ For John had said to Herod, it is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. ¹⁹ Wherefore Herodias persecuted him, and would have taken away his life: ²⁰ but could not; for Herod revered John, knowing him to be a just and holy man, and protected him: and when he heard him he did many things according to John's instructions, and heard him willingly.

²¹ But a convenient day happening, when Herod on his birth-night gave a supper to his lords, and chief officers, and persons of distinction in Galilee; and the daughter of Herodias coming in, ²² and dancing, and having pleased Herod and his guests, the king said to the young princess, Ask of me whatever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. ²³ And he gave her his oath too, whatever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, even to the half of my kingdom.

²⁴ And she withdrew and consulted her mother, what to ask: and she said, The head of John the baptist.

²⁵ And immediately she came in again with eagerness to the king, and said, I desire that thou wouldst give me directly the head of John the baptist in a dish.

²⁶ And the king was exceedingly grieved, but on account of his oath, and those who were at table with him, he would not refuse her: but immediately sent one of his guard, ²⁷ and ordered his head to be brought: ²⁸ and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish, and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel carried it to her mother. ²⁹ And his disciples hearing of it, came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a sepulchre.