14 And king Herod heard of him (for his name was spread abroad), and he said, John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and therefore virtues operate in him. 15 Others said, It is Elijah. And others said, It is the prophet or one of the prophets. 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, This is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead. 17 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. 18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife. 19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him and would have killed him, but she could not; 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and respected him; and when he heard him, he did many things and heard him gladly.
21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his princes and tribunes and to the principal people of Galilee; 22 and when the daughter of Herodias came in and danced and pleased Herod and those that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it unto thee. 23 And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it unto thee, unto the half of my kingdom. 24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. 25 And she came in with haste unto the king and asked, saying, I will that thou give me immediately in a platter the head of John the Baptist. 26 And the king was exceeding sorry, yet for his oath’s sake and for the sakes of those who sat with him, he would not reject her. 27 And straightway the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought, and he went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head in a platter and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother. 29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.