John the Baptist Imprisoned

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!”

For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married.

For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!”

So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable,

because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.

But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done,

Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.