20. because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man. Even though Herod was confused by what John said, he was glad to listen to him. And he often did.
21. Finally, Herodias got her chance when Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself and invited his officials, his army officers, and the leaders of Galilee.
22. The daughter of Herodias came in and danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it's yours!
23. I swear that I will give you as much as half of my kingdom, if you want it.”
24. The girl left and asked her mother, “What do you think I should ask for?”Her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist!”
25. The girl hurried back and told Herod, “Straight away on a dish I want the head of John the Baptist!”
26. The king was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests.
27. At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison.
28. The guard put the head on a dish and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother.
29. When John's followers learnt that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.
30. After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught.
31. But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest.”
32. They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone.
33. But many people saw them leave and worked out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.
34. When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.
35. That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it is already late.
36. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.”
37. Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”But they asked him, “Don't you know that it would take almost a year's wages to buy all these people something to eat?”
38. Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!”They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread and two fish.”
39. Jesus told his disciples to make the people sit down on the green grass.