Matthew 14:1-13 ▼

1 AT that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus.

2 And he said to his servants, This man is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; this is why great miracles are wrought by him.

3 For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

4 For John had said to him, It is unlawful to have her as your wife.

5 So Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the people, because they accepted him as a prophet.

6 When Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests, and it pleased Herod.

7 He therefore swore to her with oaths, that he would give her anything that she asked.

8 And she, because she was instructed by her mother, said, Give me right here on a tray the head of John the Baptist.

9 And the king was very sorry; but because of the oaths and the guests, he commanded that it be given to her.

10 So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in on a tray, and given to the girl; and she took it to her mother.

12 Then his disciples came and took up his body and buried it, and they came and informed Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard it, he departed thence by boat, alone to a desert place; and when the people heard of it, they followed him by land from the cities.