⁴ John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, ^[a](A)preaching a baptism of repentance for the ^(B)forgiveness of sins. ⁵ And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. ⁶ John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore ^(C)a leather belt around his waist, and ^[b]his diet was locusts and wild honey. ⁷ And he was ^[c]preaching, saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to bend down and untie the straps of His sandals. ⁸ I baptized you ^[d]with water; but He will baptize you ^[e]with the Holy Spirit.”

The Baptism of Jesus

^9 (D)In those days Jesus ^(E)came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. ¹⁰ And immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens ^[f]opening, and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon Him; ¹¹ and a voice came from the heavens: “^(F)You are My beloved Son; in You I ^[g]am well pleased.”

^12 (G)And immediately the Spirit *brought Him out into the wilderness. ¹³ And He was in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by ^(H)Satan; and He was with the wild animals, and the angels were serving Him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

^14 (I)Now after John was ^[h]taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, ^[i](J)preaching the gospel of God, ¹⁵ and saying, “^(K)The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God ^[j]is at hand; ^(L)repent and ^[k]believe in the gospel.”

John’s Fate Recalled

^14 (A)And King Herod heard about it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “^(B)John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” ¹⁵ But others were saying, “He is ^(C)Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is ^(D)a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” ¹⁶ But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of ^(E)Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. ¹⁸ For John had been saying to Herod, “^(F)It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹ And ^(G)Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so; ²⁰ for ^(H)Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he had been protecting him. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; and yet he ^[a]used to enjoy listening to him. ²¹ An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, ^(I)held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people ^(J)of Galilee; ²² and when the daughter of ^(K)Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and ^[b]his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” ²³ And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to ^(L)half of my kingdom.” ²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” ²⁵ Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” ²⁶ And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and ^[c]his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body, and laid it in a tomb.