6. He was surprised that the people there had no faith. Then he went to other villages in that area and taught.
7. Jesus called his twelve apostles together. He sent them out in groups of two and gave them power over evil spirits.
8. This is what he told them: “Take nothing for your trip except a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money.
9. You can wear sandals, but don’t take extra clothes.
10. When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town.
11. If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them.”
12. The apostles left and went to other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their hearts and lives.
13. They forced many demons out of people and put olive oil on many who were sick and healed them.
14. King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, “He is John the Baptizer. He must have risen from death, and that is why he can do these miracles.”
15. Other people said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet. He is like the prophets who lived long ago.”
16. Herod heard these things about Jesus. He said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!”
17. Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John and put him in prison. Herod did this to please his wife Herodias. She had been married to Herod’s brother Philip, but then Herod married her.
18. John told Herod, “It is not right for you to be married to your brother’s wife.”
19. So Herodias hated John. She wanted him dead, but she was not able to persuade Herod to kill him.
20. Herod was afraid to kill John, because he knew that he was a good and holy man. So he protected him. He liked listening to John, although what John said left him with so many questions.
21. Then the right time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. It happened on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee.
22. The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased. So King Herod said to the girl, “I will give you anything you want.”
23. He promised her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you—even half of my kingdom.”
24. The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask King Herod to give me?” Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptizer.”