For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him and put him in prison, on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.

John said to Herod, "It is not right for you to be living with your brother's wife."

King Herod heard of him, for his name was now well known, and people were saying that John the baptizer had risen from the dead, and that that was why he was endowed with these extraordinary powers.

But when Herod heard of him he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead."

for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing that he was an upright and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him talk he was very much disturbed, and yet he liked to hear him.

When a holiday came and Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to his courtiers and officers and to the leading men of Galilee,

Herodias' own daughter came in and danced for them. And Herod and his guests were delighted, and the king said to the girl,

And he warned them, saying, "Look out! Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod!"

and to love him with one's whole heart, one's whole understanding, and one's whole strength, and to love one's neighbor as one's self is far more than all these burnt-offerings and sacrifices."