Matthew 14:1-6

Death of John the Baptist

1 At that time Herod the ruler heard the news about Jesus.

2 He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He's been raised from the dead. This is why these miraculous powers are at work through him."

3 Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod's brother Philip.

4 That's because John told Herod, "It's against the law for you to marry her."

5 Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet.

6 But at Herod's birthday party Herodias' daughter danced in front of the guests and thrilled Herod.

Footnotes

• [a] Or tetrarch, which refers to a prince over a small region