John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)

14 At that time Herod^(B) the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,^{(C) 2} and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist;^(D) he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

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

⁶ On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much ⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. ⁸ Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” ⁹ 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^(I) in the prison. ¹¹ His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. ¹² John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it.^(J) Then they went and told Jesus.

John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)(B)

¹⁴ King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,^[a] “John the Baptist^(C) has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”^(D)

And still others claimed, “He is a prophet,^(E) like one of the prophets of long ago.”^(F)

¹⁶ But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison.^(G) 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.”^{(H) 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.^(I) When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled^[b]; yet he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet^(J) for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.^{(K) 22} When the daughter of^[c] Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.

The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(L)

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”

“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.

²⁵ At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. ²⁹ On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast^(A) of the Pharisees^(B) and that of Herod.”^(C)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)(B)

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate^(C) was governor of Judea, Herod^(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod^(A) the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done,

³ Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s^(A) household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem^(A)(B)

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod^(C) wants to kill you.”

⁷ When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(A) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.^(B) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. ⁹ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.^{(C) 10} The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,^(D) they sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends^(E)—before this they had been enemies.

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.^{(F) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him^(G) and then release him.” ^[17] [a]

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”^{(H) 19} (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”^(I)

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(J)

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(K) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(L) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(M) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(N) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(O) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(Q)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(R) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(S) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c](T) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(U)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(V) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(W)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(X) They offered him wine vinegar^{(Y) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(Z) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(AA)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(AB)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(AC)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”^(AD)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(AE)

The Death of Jesus^(AF)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,^{(AG) 45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple^(AH) was torn in two.^{(AI) 46} Jesus called out with a loud voice,^(AJ) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e](AK) When he had said this, he breathed his last.^(AL)

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God^(AM) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts^(AN) and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,^(AO) stood at a distance,^(AP) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus^(AQ)

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.^{(AR) 52} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day,^(AS) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee^(AT) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.^(AU) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.^(AV)

¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,^(A) they sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends^(B)—before this they had been enemies.

¹³ Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, ¹⁴ and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him.^{(C) 15} Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. ¹⁶ Therefore, I will punish him^(D) and then release him.” ^[17] [a]

¹⁸ But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!”^{(E) 19} (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.)

²⁰ Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. ²¹ But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!”

²² For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.”^(F)

²³ But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. ²⁴ So Pilate decided to grant their demand. ²⁵ He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

The Crucifixion of Jesus^(G)

²⁶ As the soldiers led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene,^(H) who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.^{(I) 27} A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed^(J) for him. ²⁸ Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.^{(K) 29} For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the childless women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’^{(L) 30} Then

³¹ For if people do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”^(N)

³² Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.^{(O) 33} When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. ³⁴ Jesus said, “Father,^(P) forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”^[c](Q) And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.^(R)

³⁵ The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him.^(S) They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”^(T)

³⁶ The soldiers also came up and mocked him.^(U) They offered him wine vinegar^{(V) 37} and said, “If you are the king of the Jews,^(W) save yourself.”

³⁸ There was a written notice above him, which read: this is the king of the jews.^(X)

³⁹ One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”^(Y)

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”^(Z)

⁴² Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.^[d]”^(AA)

⁴³ Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”^(AB)

The Death of Jesus^(AC)

⁴⁴ It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon,^{(AD) 45} for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple^(AE) was torn in two.^{(AF) 46} Jesus called out with a loud voice,^(AG) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”^[e](AH) When he had said this, he breathed his last.^(AI)

⁴⁷ The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God^(AJ) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” ⁴⁸ When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts^(AK) and went away. ⁴⁹ But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee,^(AL) stood at a distance,^(AM) watching these things.

The Burial of Jesus^(AN)

⁵⁰ Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, ⁵¹ who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God.^{(AO) 52} Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. ⁵³ Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. ⁵⁴ It was Preparation Day,^(AP) and the Sabbath was about to begin.

⁵⁵ The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee^(AQ) followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. ⁵⁶ Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes.^(AR) But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.^(AS)