³ Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison^(A) because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,^{(B) 4} for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”^{(C) 5} Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.^(D)

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison.^(A) He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”^{(B) 19} So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, ²⁰ because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man.^(C) When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled^[a]; yet he liked to listen to him.