Mark 6:17-29

Living Bible

^17-18 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John because he kept saying it was wrong for the king to marry Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ¹⁹ Herodias wanted John killed in revenge, but without Herod’s approval she was powerless. ²⁰ And Herod respected John, knowing that he was a good and holy man, and so he kept him under his protection. Herod was disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so he liked to listen to him.

²¹ Herodias’s chance finally came. It was Herod’s birthday and he gave a stag party for his palace aides, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. ^22-23 Then Herodias’s daughter came in and danced before them and greatly pleased them all.

“Ask me for anything you like,” the king vowed, “even half of my kingdom, and I will give it to you!”

²⁴ She went out and consulted her mother, who told her, “Ask for John the Baptist’s head!”

²⁵ So she hurried back to the king and told him, “I want the head of John the Baptist—right now—on a tray!”

²⁶ Then the king was sorry, but he was embarrassed to break his oath in front of his guests. ²⁷ So he sent one of his bodyguards to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier killed John in the prison, ²⁸ and brought back his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl and she took it to her mother.

²⁹ When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came for his body and buried it in a tomb.