John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)

14 At that time Herod^(B) the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,^(C)

John the Baptist Prepares the Way^(A)(B)

3 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate^(C) was governor of Judea, Herod^(D) tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene—

²⁷ Indeed Herod^(A) and Pontius Pilate^(B) met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,^(C) whom you anointed.

⁷ Now Herod^(A) the tetrarch heard about all that was going on. And he was perplexed because some were saying that John^(B) had been raised from the dead,^{(C) 8} others that Elijah had appeared,^(D) and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had come back to life.^{(E) 9} But Herod said, “I beheaded John. Who, then, is this I hear such things about?” And he tried to see him.^(F)

¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast^(A) of the Pharisees^(B) and that of Herod.”^(C)

¹⁵ Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death.

⁷ When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod,^(A) who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

⁸ When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him.^(B) From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. ⁹ He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer.^{(C) 10} The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. ¹¹ Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe,^(D) they sent him back to Pilate. ¹² That day Herod and Pilate became friends^(E)—before this they had been enemies.

Peter’s Miraculous Escape From Prison

12 It was about this time that King Herod^(A) arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them.

Jesus’ Sorrow for Jerusalem^(A)(B)

³¹ At that time some Pharisees came to Jesus and said to him, “Leave this place and go somewhere else. Herod^(C) wants to kill you.”

³² He replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’^(D)