6:21 But ¹¹  a suitable day ¹²  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 ¹³  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, ¹⁴  “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” ¹⁵  6:24 So ¹⁶  she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother ¹⁷  said, “The head of John the baptizer.” ¹⁸  6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: ¹⁹  “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply, ²⁰  he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So ²¹  the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s ²²  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 ²³  disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.