3. Sometime before this, Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him into prison. Herod did this because of Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother.
4. Herod arrested John because he told Herod: “It is not right for you to have Herodias.”
5. Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed that John was a prophet.
6. On Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests. Herod was very pleased with her,
7. so he promised he would give her anything she wanted.
8. Herodias told her daughter what to ask for. So she said to Herod, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
9. King Herod was very sad. But he had promised to give her anything she wanted, and the people eating with him had heard his promise. So Herod ordered that what she asked for be done.
10. He sent men to the prison to cut off John’s head.
11. And the men brought John’s head on a platter and gave it to the girl. She took it to her mother, Herodias.
12. John’s followers came and got his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what happened.
13. When Jesus heard what happened to John, Jesus left in a boat. He went to a lonely place by himself. But when the crowds heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14. When Jesus arrived, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed those who were sick.
15. Late that afternoon, his followers came to Jesus and said, “No one lives in this place. And it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the towns and buy food for themselves.”
16. Jesus answered, “They don’t need to go away. You give them some food to eat.”