Marc. 6, 17-29.
And Herod sent and took John, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philippi's wife: for he had espoused her. And John said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. And Herodias pursued after him, and would have killed him, but could not. But Herod feared John, for he knew that he was a pious and holy man: and he kept him, and obeyed him in many things, and heard him gladly. And it came to pass on a convenient day, that Herod gave a supper in his yearly feast unto the rulers and captains and nobles of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat at meat. Then said the king unto the damsel, Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he swore an oath to her: What thou shalt ask of me, I will give thee, even to the half of my kingdom. And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she went in quickly with haste unto the king, and besought, saying: I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a dish as soon as possible. The king was grieved, but for the sake of the oath and those who were sitting at the table, he would not let her make a false request. Soon the king sent for the executioner and ordered his head to be brought here. He went and beheaded him in prison. He brought his head out of a bowl and gave it to the maiden, and the maiden gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard this, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.