14:1 那時，分封的王希律聽見耶穌的名聲，
14:2 就對臣僕說：「這是施洗的約翰從死裡復活，所以這些異能從他裡面發出來。」
14:3 起先，希律為他兄弟腓力的妻子希羅底的緣故，把約翰拿住，鎖在監裡。
14:4 因為約翰曾對他說：「你娶這婦人是不合理的。」
14:5 希律就想要殺他，只是怕百姓，因為他們以約翰為先知。
14:6 到了希律的生日，希羅底的女兒在眾人面前跳舞，使希律歡喜。
14:7 希律就起誓，應許隨她所求的給她。
14:8 女兒被母親所使，就說：「請把施洗約翰的頭放在盤子裡，拿來給我。」
14:9 王便憂愁，但因他所起的誓，又因同席的人，就吩咐給她；
14:10 於是打發人去，在監裡斬了約翰，
14:11 把頭放在盤子裡，拿來給了女子；女子拿去給她母親。
14:12 約翰的門徒來，把屍首領去埋葬了，就去告訴耶穌。
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
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在今日的人來看施洗約翰的死亡實在很可惜，他是上帝的先知，說了君王不喜歡的話，被下在監牢裡。更荒唐的是因為到了希律的生日，希羅底的女兒在眾人面前跳舞，使希律歡喜。希律就起誓，應許隨她所求的給她。這無知的小女孩竟然被母親所慫恿，就說：「請把施洗約翰的頭放在盤子裡，拿來給我。」
是小女孩無知就算了，希律王的賓客也是一群邪惡的人，也在一旁搧風點火，促成了希律王作錯誤的決斷，答應了她的要求，也因為這樣於是打發人去，在監裡斬了約翰，把頭放在盤子裡，拿來給了女子；女子拿去給她母親。
這樣一位改變歷史的人物，竟然被這樣惡待，對今日的我們真的為施洗約翰感到惋惜！想到人的生命在那樣的時代，真的如草、如花一般，既不受重視，又是充滿危機！
看到施洗約翰的離世，也讓我們十分感慨，也提醒我們不要畏懼死亡，因為我們不知將來我們會如何，但是重要的是我們要隨時準備好為主捨命的決心，因為主耶穌也說：「若有人要跟從我，就當捨己，背起他的十字架來跟從我。因為，凡要救自己生命（生命：或譯靈魂；下同）的，必喪掉生命；凡為我喪掉生命的，必得著生命。」（馬太福音16:24-25）
我們相信：「施洗約翰雖為希律王所殺，似乎很悲慘，可是他現在正在安息上帝的懷中，將來要與我們一同在天國中享受永生的福樂，得上帝而來的榮耀！」
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