Book of Common Prayer

He rebukes those who use their freedom to the detriment of others, and shows how people ought to behave towards the weak.

8 Now to speak of things dedicated to idols. We are sure that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes a man swell, but love edifies. ² If anyone thinks he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. ³ But if anyone loves God, the same is known by him.

⁴ To speak of meat dedicated to idols: we are sure that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. ⁵ And though there be what are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth (as there be gods many and lords many), ⁶ yet to us there is but one God, who is the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. ⁷ But not everyone has knowledge. For some still suppose that an idol really is something, and eat a thing as offered to the idol, and so their consciences, still being weak, are defiled.

⁸ Meat does not make us acceptable to God. We are neither the better if we eat, nor the worse if we do not. ⁹ But take heed that your liberty does not cause the weak to fall. ¹⁰ For if someone sees you who have knowledge sitting at food in the idol’s temple, might not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things that are offered to the idol? ¹¹ And so through your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died. ¹² When you sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak consciences, you sin against Christ. ¹³ Therefore if meat hurts my brother, I will eat no flesh while the world stands, because I do not want to hurt my brother.

¹³ And they cast out many devils, and anointed many who were sick with oil, and healed them.

¹⁴ And King Herod heard of Jesus (for his name was spread abroad) and said, John the Baptist has risen again from death, and therefore  miracles are wrought by him. ¹⁵ Others said, It is Elijah; and some said, It is a prophet, or like one of the prophets. ¹⁶ But when Herod heard of him, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he has risen back up from death. ¹⁷ For Herod himself had sent forth and seized John, and bound him and cast him into prison for the sake of Herodias, who was his brother Philip’s wife. For Herod had married her. ¹⁸ John said to Herod, It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife. ¹⁹ So Herodias was laying in wait for him, and would have killed him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and gave him reverence. And he heeded him in many things, and heard him gladly.

²¹ But when an opportune day came, Herod on his birthday put on a supper for the lords, captains, and chief personages of Galilee. ²² And the daughter of the said Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him. Then the king said to the maiden, Ask of me what you will, and I will give it to you. ²³ And he swore to her, Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, even up to one half of my kingdom.

²⁴ And she went out and said to her mother, What should I ask for? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. ²⁵ And the maiden went in straightaway with haste to the king and asked, saying, I would like you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.

²⁶ And the king was sorry. However, for his oath’s sake, and because of those who sat at supper also, he did not want to put her beside her purpose. ²⁷ And immediately the king sent the hangman and commanded John’s head to be brought in. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, ²⁸ and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother.

²⁹ And when John’s disciples heard of it, they came and took up his body and put it in a tomb.