1. The disciples of John the Baptist reported to John all these things, and summoning two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord saying, "Are You the one we were waiting for, or should we look further?"
2. When they came to Jesus they asked him John's question, and He answered them saying, "Go report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight; the lame walk; lepers are cleansed; the deaf hear; the dead are raised to life, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them."
3. When the messengers of John the Baptist had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John.
4. "What did you go out into the wilderness to find, a reed shaken by the wind? Or what did you go out to see, a man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear fine clothes live in palaces.
5. "But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, a prophet, and even more than a prophet. For this is the one who foretold you about Me. He is the messenger who prepared the way for Me.
6. "In truth, there has been none greater born among women than John. And yet, I say to you, those who are least in the kingdom of God are greater than John the Baptist.
7. "From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence and violent people take it by force. For all the prophets and the law prophesied about me until John, and if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. Whoever has ears, let them hear.
8. "But what good were the prophets? And to what shall I compare this generation of humankind who benefited from them? They are like children who sit in the market place calling out to one another saying, 'We played a flute for you and you did not dance; we sang a dirge and you did not weep.'
9. "For John came drinking no wine and fasting much and they said, 'He has a demon!' The Son of Man has come eating and drinking and they say, 'Behold, a glutton and a drunkard--a friend to the sinners!'
10. "Yet wisdom is proved in the deeds that people do."
11. And King Herod heard of all this, for Jesus and what He preached had become very well known, and the people were saying, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him."
12. Still others were saying he was an old prophet risen again, but when Herod heard all this, he kept saying "John, whom I beheaded, is risen!"
13. For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother whom Herod had taken and married.
14. John had been saying publicly, "It is not lawful for you to take your brother's wife!"
15. And for that reason, Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted him put to death, and yet she could not convince Herod to do so.
16. Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe, even while he was in prison. And when he heard John calling out and preaching from his cell, he was perplexed, but he enjoyed listening to him all the same.
17. Then came Herod's birthday and he threw a large banquet for all his lords and military commanders, and all the leading men in the land.
18. And when the daughter of Herodias came and danced for Herod, by his request, she pleased him so much that he said to the girl, "Ask whatever you will as payment and you shall have it--even if it is half of my kingdom."
19. So, the girl went out and asked her mother what to ask for, and Herodias told her to ask for the head of John the Baptist.
20. Immediately she came in to the king and said, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
21. And though it greatly grieved the king, he was unwilling to lose honor among his dinner guests and friends, and so he had the executioner take John and behead him.
22. The head was brought on a platter to the girl, and she took it and gave it to her mother.
23. When the disciples heard about this, they came and took away John's body and laid it in a tomb.
24. Jesus' disciples then went and told Jesus all that had occurred and He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while" (For the crowds were constantly coming to Jesus and His followers.). So they went away in a boat to a secluded place by themselves.
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