John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)

14 At that time ^(B)Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus ² and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” ^3 (C)For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. ⁴ Because John had said to him, ^(D)“It is not lawful for you to have her.” ⁵ And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, ^(E)because they counted him as a prophet.

⁶ But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod. ⁷ Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.

⁸ So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

⁹ And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. ¹⁰ So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. ¹¹ And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. ¹² Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)

3 In those days ^(B)John the Baptist came preaching ^(C)in the wilderness of Judea, ² and saying, “Repent, for ^(D)the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”

^17 (A)From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, ^(B)“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven ^[a]is at hand.”

^7 (A)As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? ^(B)A reed shaken by the wind? ⁸ But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. ⁹ But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, ^(C)and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ For this is he of whom it is written:

¹¹ “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. ^12 (E)And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force. ^13 (F)For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to receive it, he is ^(G)Elijah who is to come. ^15 (H)He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

⁹ Now as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.”

¹⁰ And His disciples asked Him, saying, ^(A)“Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

¹¹ Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming ^[a]first and will ^(B)restore all things. ^12 (C)But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they ^(D)did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise ^(E)the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” ^13 (F)Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist.

¹² For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law ¹³ (for ^(A)not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; ¹⁴ for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ who show the ^(B)work of the law written in their hearts, their ^(C)conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) ^16 (D)in the day when God will judge the secrets of men ^(E)by Jesus Christ, ^(F)according to my gospel.

^2 (A)speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience ^(B)seared with a hot iron,