16. But when Herod heard about it, he said, “I had John’s head cut off, and he has come back to life!”
17. Herod had sent men who had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did that for Herodias, whom he had married. (She used to be his brother Philip’s wife.)
18. John had been telling Herod, “It’s not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.”
19. So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she wasn’t allowed to do it
20. because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a fair and holy man, so he protected him. When he listened to John, he would become very disturbed, and yet he liked to listen to him.
21. An opportunity finally came on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner for his top officials, army officers, and the most important people of Galilee.