The Death of John the Baptist

14 (A)King Herod heard of it, for Jesus'[a] name had become known. Some[b] said, (B)“John the Baptist[c] has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 (C)But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is (D)a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 (E)For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and (F)bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 (G)For John had been saying to Herod, (H)“It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod (I)feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he (J)heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod (K)on his birthday (L)gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, (M)up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste 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 the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's[d] head. 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 (N)disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:14 Greek his
  2. Mark 6:14 Some manuscripts He
  3. Mark 6:14 Greek baptizer; also verse 24
  4. Mark 6:27 Greek his

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.

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Footnotes

  1. Mark 6:14 Some early manuscripts He was saying
  2. Mark 6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things
  3. Mark 6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter