Herod was afraid to kill John, because he knew that he was a good and holy man. So he protected him. He liked listening to John, although what John said left him with so many questions.

Then the right time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. It happened on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee.

The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased. So King Herod said to the girl, “I will give you anything you want.”

The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask King Herod to give me?” Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”

King Herod was very sad, but he didn’t want to break the promise he had made to her in front of his guests.

Jesus warned them, “Be careful! Guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”

The Jewish Leaders Try to Trick Jesus

Later, the Jewish leaders sent some Pharisees and some men from the group called Herodians to Jesus. They wanted to catch him saying something wrong.

Zechariah and Elizabeth

During the time when Herod ruled Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah. He belonged to Abijah’s group. His wife came from the family of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth.

John Prepares the Way for Jesus

It was the 15th year of the rule of Tiberius Caesar. These men were under Caesar: Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea; Herod, the ruler of Galilee; Philip, Herod’s brother, the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis; Lysanias, the ruler of Abilene.

How John’s Work Later Ended

John criticized Herod the ruler for what he had done with Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother, as well as for all the other bad things he had done.

So Herod added another bad thing to all his other wrongs: He put John in jail.

Also with these women were Joanna, the wife of Chuza (the manager of Herod’s property), Susanna, and many other women. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.

Herod Is Confused About Jesus

Herod the ruler heard about all these things that were happening. He was confused because some people said, “John the Baptizer has risen from death.”

Herod said, “I cut off John’s head. So who is this man I hear these things about?” Herod continued trying to see Jesus.

Jesus Will Die in Jerusalem

Just then some Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Go away from here and hide. Herod wants to kill you!”

Pilate Sends Jesus to Herod

Pilate heard this and asked if Jesus was from Galilee.

He learned that Jesus was under Herod’s authority. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time, so Pilate sent Jesus to him.

When Herod saw Jesus, he was very happy. He had heard all about him and had wanted to meet him for a long time. Herod wanted to see a miracle, so he was hoping that Jesus would do one.

Then Herod and his soldiers laughed at him. They made fun of him by dressing him in clothes like kings wear. Then Herod sent him back to Pilate.

In the past Pilate and Herod had always been enemies. But on that day they became friends.

Herod didn’t find him guilty either. He sent him back to us. Look, he has done nothing bad enough for the death penalty.

That’s what actually happened when Herod, Pontius Pilate, the other nations, and the people of Israel all came together against Jesus here in Jerusalem. He is your holy Servant, the one you made to be the Messiah.

More Trouble for the Believers

During this same time, King Herod began to do harm to some of those who were part of the church.

Herod saw that many of the Jews liked this, so he decided to arrest Peter too. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread.

He arrested Peter and put him in jail, where he was guarded by a group of 16 soldiers. Herod planned to bring Peter before the people, but he wanted to wait until after the Passover festival.