^12 (A)But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they ^(B)did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise ^(C)the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.”

^24 (A)after John had first preached, before His coming, the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. ²⁵ And as John was finishing his course, he said, ^(B)‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, ^(C)there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’

²⁶ “Men and brethren, sons of the ^[a]family of Abraham, and ^(D)those among you who fear God, ^(E)to you the ^[b]word of this salvation has been sent. ²⁷ For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, ^(F)because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. ^28 (G)And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.

John the Baptist Beheaded^(A)

^14 (B)Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore ^(C)these powers are at work in him.”

^15 (D)Others said, “It is Elijah.”

And others said, “It is ^[a]the Prophet, ^(E)or like one of the prophets.”

^16 (F)But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!” ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. ¹⁸ Because John had said to Herod, ^(G)“It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

¹⁹ Therefore Herodias ^[b]held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; ²⁰ for Herod ^(H)feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he ^[c]did many things, and heard him gladly.

^21 (I)Then an opportune day came when Herod ^(J)on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. ²² And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” ²³ He also swore to her, ^(K)“Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

²⁴ So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?”

And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

²⁵ Immediately she came in 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 (L)And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

Jesus Predicts His Death and Resurrection^(A)

²¹ From that time Jesus began ^(B)to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.

¹⁰ let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, ^(A)that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, ^(B)whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands here before you whole.

¹⁴ But you denied ^(A)the Holy One ^(B)and the Just, and ^(C)asked for a murderer to be granted to you, ¹⁵ and killed the ^[a]Prince of life, ^(D)whom God raised from the dead, ^(E)of which we are witnesses.

^32 (A)There is another who bears witness of Me, and I know that the witness which He witnesses of Me is true. ³³ You have sent to John, ^(B)and he has borne witness to the truth. ³⁴ Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved. ³⁵ He was the burning and ^(C)shining lamp, and ^(D)you were willing for a time to rejoice in his light. ³⁶ But ^(E)I have a greater witness than John’s; for ^(F)the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very ^(G)works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.

¹² Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And ^(A)how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and ^(B)be treated with contempt? ¹³ But I say to you that ^(C)Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”