JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED BY ORDER OF HEROD.
And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve
disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. At
that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, of all that was
done by him: (for his name was spread abroad:) and he was perplexed,
because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead: and
of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old
prophets was risen again.
And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear
such things? And (he) said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist;
he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth
themselves in him: and he desired to see him. Others said, That it
is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the
prophets. But when Herod heard _thereof_, he said, it is John, whom I
beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him
in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had
married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to
have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him,
and would have killed him; but she could not: for Herod feared John,
knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when
he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birth day made a
supper to his lords, high captains, and chief _estates_ of Galilee; and
when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased
Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of
me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give _it_ thee. Whereupon he
promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. And he sware
unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give _it_ thee, unto
the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother,
What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.
And she, being before instructed of her mother, came in straightway with
haste unto the king, and asked saying, I will that thou give me by and
by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.
And the king was exceedingly sorry: _yet_ for his oath's sake, and for
their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her. And immediately
the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought; and
he went and beheaded him in the prison. And brought his head in a
charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave _it_ to her
mother. And when his disciples heard _of it_, they came and took up his
corpse, and laid it in a tomb, and went and told Jesus.