^{1 Ref} At that time news of Jesus came to Herod the king;

^{2 Ref} And he said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he has come back from the dead, and so these powers are working in him.

^{3 Ref} For Herod had taken John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

^{4 Ref} Because John had said to him, It is not right for you to have her.

^{5 Ref} And he would have put him to death, but for his fear of the people, because in their eyes John was a prophet.

^{6 Ref} But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias was dancing before them, and Herod was pleased with her.

^{7 Ref} So he gave her his word with an oath to let her have whatever she might make request for.

^{8 Ref} And she, at her mother's suggestion, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist.

^{9 Ref} And the king was sad; but because of his oaths and because of his guests, he gave the order for it to be given to her;

^{10 Ref} And he sent and had John's head cut off in the prison.

^{11 Ref} And his head was put on a plate and given to the girl; and she took it to her mother.

^{12 Ref} And his disciples came, and took up his body and put it in the earth; and they went and gave Jesus news of what had taken place.