13. The followers forced many demons out and poured olive oil on many sick people and healed them.
14. King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now well known. Some people said, “He is John the Baptist. He is risen from death. That is the reason he can work these miracles.”
15. Others said, “He is Elijah.”Other people said, “Jesus is a prophet. He is like the prophets who lived long ago.”
16. Herod heard all these things about Jesus. He said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!”
17. Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John, and John was put in prison. Herod did this to please his wife, Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother. But then Herod married her.
18. John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to be married to his brother’s wife.
19. So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she could not because of Herod.
20. Herod was afraid to kill John because he knew John was a good and holy man. So Herod protected John. Also, Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But John’s preaching always bothered him.
21. Then the perfect time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. It happened on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee.
22. The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased.So King Herod said to the girl, “I will give you anything you want.”
23. He promised her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you. I will even give you half of my kingdom.”
24. The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask the king to give me?”Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”
25. Quickly the girl went back to the king. She said to him, “Please give me the head of John the Baptist. Bring it to me now on a platter.”
26. The king was very sad. But he had promised to give the girl anything she wanted. And the people eating there with him had heard his promise. So Herod could not refuse what she asked.
27. Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John’s head. The soldier went and cut off John’s head in the prison
28. and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29. John’s followers heard about what happened. So they came and got John’s body and put it in a tomb.