18. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not permitted for you to have your brother’s wife.”
19. So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so.
20. For Herod was afraid of John, because he knew him to be a righteous and holy man and protected him. And when he listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly.
21. And a suitable day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers and military tribunes and the most prominent men of Galilee.