6:14 Now ²  King Herod ³  heard this, for Jesus’ ⁴  name had become known. Some ⁵  were saying, “John the baptizer ⁶  has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 6:15 Others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past.” 6:16 But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!” 6:17 For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod ⁷  had married her. 6:18 For John had repeatedly told ⁸  Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” ⁹  6:19 So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But ¹⁰  she could not 6:20 because Herod stood in awe of ¹¹  John and protected him, since he knew that John ¹²  was a righteous and holy man. When Herod ¹³  heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, ¹⁴  and yet ¹⁵  he liked to listen to John. ¹⁶ 

6:21 But ¹⁷  a suitable day ¹⁸  came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 6:22 When his daughter Herodias ¹⁹  came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 6:23 He swore to her, ²⁰  “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” ²¹  6:24 So ²²  she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother ²³  said, “The head of John the baptizer.” ²⁴  6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: ²⁵  “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply, ²⁶  he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So ²⁷  the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s ²⁸  head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 6:28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 6:29 When John’s ²⁹  disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.