15
Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets."
16
But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "The John, whom I beheaded, has come back to life."
17
For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.
18
For John had repeatedly told Herod, "You have no right to be living with your brother's wife."
19
Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;
20
for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.
21
At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,
22
at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, "Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you."
23
He even swore to her, "Whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom."
24
She at once went out and said to her mother: "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptizer," she replied.
25
The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist."