Mark 6:19-21

International Standard Version

¹⁹ So Herodias bore a grudge against John^[a] and wanted to kill him. But she couldn’t do it ²⁰ because Herod was afraid of John. He knew that John^[b] was a righteous and holy man, and so he protected him. Whenever he listened to John,^[c] he did much of what he said.^[d] In fact, he liked listening to him.

²¹ An opportunity came during Herod’s birthday celebration, when he gave a banquet for his top officials, military officers, and the most important people of Galilee.