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

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded(E) in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

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