Herod Antipas & the murder of John The Baptist- (Matthew 14:1-12)(Mark 6:14-29)
When Herod the tetrarch [Herod Antipater or Antipas][son of Herod the Great], heard about the miracles that Jesus was doing, he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist who has risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” Herod had John imprisoned for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife because John rebuked him for taking his brother's wife. He wanted to put him to death, but he feared the people, because they revered John as a prophet. [Mark writes: Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him]. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among the guests and pleased Herod and he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask. She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oath, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, and he sent and beheaded John in prison. His head was brought on a platter, and given to the daughter of Herodias and she brought it to her mother. John's disciples came, and took the body, and buried it and they went and told Jesus. When Jesus heard this, he withdrew to a deserted place, but the multitudes followed him on foot from the cities.
[Herod Antipas divorced his first wife Phasaelis, in favour of Herodias, who had formerly been married to his brother Herod Philip I. John disapproved of this]
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