^6-7 There John sat until Herod’s birthday. On that night, Salome, Herodias’s daughter by Philip, came and danced for her stepfather and all his birthday guests. Herod so enjoyed her dancing that he vowed to give her whatever she wanted.

⁹ Herod still thought it unwise to kill John, but because he had made such a show of his promise—because he had actually sworn an oath and because the scene was playing out in front of the watchful eyes of so many guests—Herod felt bound to give his stepdaughter what she wanted. ¹⁰ And so he sent orders to the prison to have John beheaded, ¹¹ and there was his head, displayed on a platter, given first to Salome and then passed on to her mother.

¹² John’s disciples went to the prison, got John’s body, and buried him. Then they went to tell Jesus.