The Death of John the Baptist

14 Herod Antipas, the king, soon heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. Some were saying,[a] “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead. That is why he can do such miracles.” 15 Others said, “He’s the prophet Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet like the other great prophets of the past.”

16 When Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “John, the man I beheaded, has come back from the dead.”

17 For Herod had sent soldiers to arrest and imprison John as a favor to Herodias. She had been his brother Philip’s wife, but Herod had married her. 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But without Herod’s approval she was powerless, 20 for Herod respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him. Herod was greatly disturbed whenever he talked with John, but even so, he liked to listen to him.

21 Herodias’s chance finally came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a party for his high government officials, army officers, and the leading citizens of Galilee. 22 Then his daughter, also named Herodias,[b] came in and performed a dance that greatly pleased Herod and his guests. “Ask me for anything you like,” the king said to the girl, “and I will give it to you.” 23 He even vowed, “I will give you whatever you ask, up to half my kingdom!”

24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother told her, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist!”

25 So the girl 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 deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. 27 So he immediately sent an executioner to the prison to cut off John’s head and bring it to him. The soldier beheaded John in the prison, 28 brought his head on a tray, and gave it to the girl, who took it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples heard what had happened, they came to get his body and buried it in a tomb.

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Footnotes

  1. 6:14 Some manuscripts read He was saying.
  2. 6:22 Some manuscripts read the daughter of Herodias herself.

14 · kai King basileus Herod hērōdēs heard akouō about · ho this, for gar Jesus’ autos name onoma had become ginomai well known phaneros. · ho · kai Some were saying legō, “ John Iōannēs the ho baptizer baptizō has been raised egeirō from ek the dead nekros. · kai That is why dia miraculous powers dynamis are at work energeō · ho in en him autos.” 15 But de others allos were saying legō, “ He is eimi Elijah ēlias.” Still de others allos were saying legō, “He is a prophet prophētēs, like hōs one heis of the ho prophets prophētēs of old.” 16 But de when Herod hērōdēs heard akouō · ho this, he said legō, “He is John Iōannēs, the man hos I egō beheaded apokephalizō; he houtos has been raised egeirō from the dead.”

17 For gar it was Herod hērōdēs himself autos · ho who had sent apostellō and arrested krateō · ho John Iōannēs and kai bound deō him autos in en prison phylakē on account dia of Herodias hērōidias, the ho wife gynē of Philip Philippos · ho his autos brother adelphos, because hoti he had married gameō her autos. 18 For gar John Iōannēs had been saying legō · ho to ho Herod hērōdēs, “It is not ou lawful for you sy to have echō the ho wife gynē of ho your sy brother adelphos.” 19 · ho So de Herodias hērōidias was nursing enechō a grudge against him autos and kai wanted thelō to kill apokteinō him autos. But kai she was not ou able dynamai to do it, 20 · ho because gar Herod hērōdēs feared phobeomai · ho John Iōannēs, knowing oida him autos to be a just dikaios and kai holy hagios man anēr, and kai he protected syntēreō him autos. · kai When he heard akouō him autos, he was greatly polys perplexed aporeō, yet kai he heard akouō him autos gladly hēdeōs. 21 Then kai an opportune eukairos day hēmera came ginomai when hote Herod hērōdēs on ho his autos birthday genesia gave poieō a banquet deipnon for ho his autos government megistan officials , · kai · ho military chiliarchos commanders , and kai · ho prominent prōtos men of ho Galilee Galilaia. 22 · kai When the ho daughter thugatēr of Herodias hērōidias came in eiserchomai and kai danced orcheomai, she pleased areskō · ho Herod hērōdēs and kai his ho dinner synanakeimai companions . The ho king basileus said legō to the ho young korasion girl , “ Ask aiteō me egō for whatever hos ean you wish thelō, and kai I will give didōmi it to you sy.” 23 And kai he promised omnyō her autos insistently polys with an oath , “ Whatever hos tis you ask for aiteō, I will give didōmi it to you sy, up heōs to half hēmisys of ho my egō kingdom basileia.” 24 So kai she went exerchomai out and said legō to ho her autos mother mētēr, “ What tis should I ask aiteō for ?” And de her ho mother said legō, “ The ho head kephalē of John Iōannēs the ho baptizer baptizō.” 25 And kai immediately, entering eiserchomai with meta haste spoudē to pros the ho king basileus, she asked aiteō him, saying legō, “ I want thelō you didōmi to hina give didōmi me egō right exautēs now the ho head kephalē of John Iōannēs the ho baptizer baptistēs on epi a platter pinax.” 26 · kai The ho king basileus became ginomai very sad perilypos, but because dia of what ho he had promised with an oath horkos, and kai because of his ho dinner anakeimai guests , he did not ou want thelō to refuse atheteō her autos request . 27 So kai without delay the ho king basileus dispatched apostellō the executioner spekoulatōr and ordered epitassō him to bring pherō · ho John’ s autos head kephalē. · kai He went aperchomai and beheaded apokephalizō John autos in en · ho prison phylakē, 28 and kai brought pherō · ho his autos head kephalē on epi a platter pinax and kai gave didōmi it autos to the ho young korasion girl . · kai The ho young korasion girl in turn gave didōmi it autos to ho her autos mother mētēr. 29 · kai When John’ s autos disciples mathētēs heard akouō · ho of this, they came erchomai and kai took airō · ho his autos corpse ptōma and kai placed tithēmi it autos in en a tomb mnēmeion.

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