DEATH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST
AND king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and
he said that John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore
mighty works shewed forth themselves in him. Others said it was Elias,
and others that it was 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 birthday made a
supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; and
when the daughter of 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. 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 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 exceeding 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 they went and told Jesus.