20
for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
21
But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
22
For when Hero'di-as' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it."
23
And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom."
24
And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."
25
And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
26
And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
27
And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,
28
and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
30
The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
31
And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32
And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.
33
Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them.
34
As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
35
And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late;
36
send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat."
37
But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?"
38
And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish."
39
Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40
So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.