Herod Antipas

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

Around that time, Herod heard people talking about Jesus. Herod was a ruler over part of the land.

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has come back to life. That is why he can do such powerful things."

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

Earlier, Herod had arrested John. He tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of his brother Philip.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have her as your wife."

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was very pleased with her.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

So he made a strong promise. He said he would give her anything she asked for.

8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

Her mother had already told her what to say. She said, "Bring me John the Baptist's head here on a plate."

9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

The king was sad. But he had made his promise in front of his dinner guests. So he gave the order.

10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

He sent men to the prison, and they cut off John's head.

11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

His head was carried in on a plate and given to the girl. She took it to her mother.

12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

John's followers came and took his body away and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

14And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

King Herod heard about Jesus, because everyone was talking about him. People were saying, "John the Baptist, the man who baptized people in the river, is alive again. That is why he can do these powerful things."

15Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

Others said, "He is Elijah." Still others said, "He is a prophet, like the prophets long ago."

16But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

But when Herod heard it, he said, "It is John. I had his head cut off. He is alive again."

17For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

Herod himself had sent men to arrest John. They tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She had been the wife of Philip, Herod's brother, and Herod had married her.

18For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have your brother's wife."

19Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

So Herodias hated John and wanted him killed. But she was not able to do it.

20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

Herod was afraid of John. He knew John was a good and holy man, so he kept him safe. John's words upset him, and still he liked to listen to him.

21And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

At last the right day came for Herodias. On his birthday, Herod gave a big dinner. He invited his leaders, his army officers, and the important men of Galilee.

22And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

The daughter of Herodias came in and danced. She pleased Herod and the guests eating with him. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for anything you want. I will give it to you."

23And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

He made a strong promise to her. "Whatever you ask me for, I will give you, even half my kingdom."

24And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

She went out and asked her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the Baptist."

25And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

The girl hurried straight back to the king. She said, "I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate, right now."

26And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

The king was very sad. But he had made a promise in front of his guests. So he would not say no to her.

27And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

Right away the king sent a soldier and told him to bring John's head. The man went and cut off John's head in the prison.

28And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

He brought the head on a big plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother.

29And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

John's followers heard what had happened. They came and took his body and laid it in a tomb, a grave cut in rock.

19But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,

John told Herod the ruler that he was wrong. Herod had taken Herodias, the wife of his own brother Philip. John also told him he was wrong for all the other bad things he did.

20Added yet this above all, that he shut up John in prison.

So Herod did one more bad thing on top of all the rest. He locked John up in prison.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead;

Herod the ruler heard about everything Jesus was doing. He did not know what to think. Some people said John had come back to life.

8And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again.

Others said Elijah had appeared. Others said one of the old prophets had come back to life. A prophet was someone who told people what God said.

9And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

Herod said, "I had John's head cut off. So who is this man I hear about?" He kept trying to see Jesus.

31The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.

That same day some Pharisees came to Jesus. They were men who cared very much about religious rules. They said, "Leave this place. Herod the ruler wants to kill you."

32And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

Jesus answered, "Go and tell that fox this. 'I am driving out evil spirits and healing people today and tomorrow. On the third day I will finish my work.'"

33Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the day following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem.

"Even so, I must keep going today, tomorrow, and the next day. A prophet cannot be killed anywhere but in Jerusalem."

6When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean.

When Pilate heard the word Galilee, he asked if the man was from there.

7And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time.

He learned that Jesus came from the part Herod ruled. So he sent Jesus to Herod, who was in Jerusalem just then.

8And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

Herod was very glad to see Jesus. He had wanted to see him for a long time. He had heard many stories about him. He hoped to watch him do a miracle.

9Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing.

Herod asked him many questions. But Jesus did not answer him at all.

10And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.

The chief priests and the scribes stood there. They kept blaming him in angry voices.

11And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked him, and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate.

Herod and his soldiers treated Jesus like he was nothing. They made fun of him. They put a fine robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

12And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves.

That same day Pilate and Herod became friends. Before this they had been enemies.

24And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:

When the friends heard this, they all prayed together. They said, "Lord, you are God. You made the heavens, the earth, and the sea. You made everything in them.

25Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?

Long ago you spoke through your servant David. He wrote, 'Why are the nations so angry? Why do the people make useless plans?

26The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.

The kings of the earth get ready to fight. The rulers join together against the Lord. They join together against his Chosen One.'

27For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,

That is just what happened here against Jesus. Jesus is your holy servant, and you chose him. Herod and Pontius Pilate joined together against him. So did people from other nations and people of Israel.

28For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

They did the very things you had already planned. You decided long before that this would happen.