21 Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. |
22 When the daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. |
23 The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want, and I'll give it to you." And he promised her with an oath, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom." |
24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask for?"
"The head of John the Baptist," she answered. |
25 At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter." |
26 The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. |
27 So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, |
28 and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. |
29 On hearing of this, John's disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. |
