22
When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and the people eating with him. So King Herod said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I will give it to you."
23
He promised her, "Anything you ask for I will give to you -- up to half of my kingdom."
24
The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask for?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptist."
25
At once the girl went back to the king and said to him, "I want the head of John the Baptist right now on a platter."
26
Although the king was very sad, he had made a promise, and his dinner guests had heard it. So he did not want to refuse what she asked.
27
Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John's head. The soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison
28
and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29
When John's followers heard this, they came and got John's body and put it in a tomb.
30
The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all the things they had done and taught.
31
Crowds of people were coming and going so that Jesus and his followers did not even have time to eat. He said to them, "Come away by yourselves, and we will go to a lonely place to get some rest."
32
So they went in a boat by themselves to a lonely place.