Baptist Burial

14And King Herod heard of it, for his name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this these powers are at work in him.”

15But others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets.”

16But when Herod heard it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

17For Herod himself had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19But Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not.

20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. And when he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly.

21And when an opportune day came, Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee,

22And when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those reclining at the table with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

23And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

24And after going out, she said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”

25And she immediately went in with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once, on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer.”

26And the king, becoming deeply grieved, because of his oaths and those reclining at the table, did not want to refuse her.

27And immediately the king sent an executioner and ordered him to bring his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison.

28And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

29And when his disciples heard, they came and took up his body and laid it in a tomb.