Mat 14:1-12, Mar 6:14-29 | ISV | STEP | Jesus Recalls the Death of John the Baptist At that time Herod the tetrarch, hearing about the fame of Jesus,

Matthew 14:1-12

1 Jesus Recalls the Death of John the Baptist Mark 6:14-29; Luke 9:7-9At that time Herod the tetrarch, ^{▼▼I.e. Herod Antipas, a son of King Herod and ruler over one of four districts in and around Palestine} hearing about the fame of Jesus,Mark 6:14; Luke 9:7 2 said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that's why these miracles are at work in him.”

3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's ^{▼▼Other mss. read his brother's} wife Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19-20 4 For John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”Lev 18:16; 20:21 5 Although Herod ^{▼▼Lit. he} wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John ^{▼▼Lit. him} as a prophet.Matt 21:26; Luke 20:6

6 But when Herod's birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests. ^{▼▼Lit. in the middle} She pleased Herod 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.”

9 Though the king was saddened at this, because of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given. 10 So he sent word ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks word} and had John beheaded in prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 12 When John's ^{▼▼Lit. his} disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Mark 6:14-29

14 Jesus Recalls the Death of John the Baptist Matthew 14:1-12; Luke 9:7-9King Herod heard about this, because Jesus’ ^{▼▼Lit. his} name had become well-known. He was ^{▼▼Other mss. read They were} saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead! That's why these miracles are at work in him.”Matt 14:1; Luke 9:7

15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the other ^{▼▼The Gk. lacks other} prophets.”Matt 16:14; Mark 8:28

16 But when Herod heard about it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!”Matt 14:2; Luke 3:19 17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested ^{▼▼Lit. sent and arrested} John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. For Herod ^{▼▼Lit. he} had married her.

18 John had been telling Herod, “It's not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”Lev 18:16; 20:21 19 So Herodias bore a grudge against John ^{▼▼Lit. him} and wanted to kill him. But she couldn't do it 20 because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John ^{▼▼Lit. he} was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John, ^{▼▼Lit. him} he did much of what he said. ^{▼▼Lit. did many things; other mss. read he became very disturbed} In fact, he liked listening to him.Matt 14:5; 21:6

21 An opportunity came during Herod's birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee.Gen 40:20; Matt 14:6 22 When the daughter of Herodias ^{▼▼Other mss. read his daughter by Herodias} came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king told the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you.” 23 He swore with an oath to her, “I'll give you anything you ask for, up to half of my kingdom.”Esth 5:3, 6; 7:2

24 So she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

Her mother ^{▼▼Lit. She} replied, “The head of John the Baptist.”

25 Immediately the girl ^{▼▼Lit. she} hurried back to the king with her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

26 The king was deeply saddened, yet because of his oaths and his guests he was reluctant to refuse her.Matt 14:9 27 So without delay the king sent a soldier and ordered him to bring John's ^{▼▼Lit. his} head. The soldier ^{▼▼Lit. He} went and beheaded him in prison. 28 Then he brought John's ^{▼▼Lit. his} head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John's ^{▼▼Lit. his} disciples heard about this, they came and carried off his body and laid it in a tomb.