1
At that time Herod the ruler heard reports about Jesus;
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and he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him."
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For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
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because John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
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Though Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.
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But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and she pleased Herod
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so much that he promised on oath to grant her whatever she might ask.
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Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."
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The king was grieved, yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he commanded it to be given;
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he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
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The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who brought it to her mother.
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His disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
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Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
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When he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for them and cured their sick.
15
When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
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Jesus said to them, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat."
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They replied, "We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish."