Matthew 14:1-9

1 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus,

2 he said to his advisers, “This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles.”

3 For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias (the former wife of Herod’s brother Philip).

4 John had been telling Herod, “It is against God’s law for you to marry her.”

5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.

6 But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias’s daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him,

7 so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.

8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!”

9 Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.

Footnotes

• [a]. Greek Herod the tetrarch. Herod Antipas was a son of King Herod and was ruler over Galilee.