Proper 10 (15)

3Verse 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms. 4Verse 4. For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love 5Verse 5. He predestined us for adoption as His sons through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6Verse 6. to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the Beloved One. 7Verse 7. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace 8Verse 8. that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9Verse 9. And He has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ 10Verse 10. as a plan for the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together in Christ. 11Verse 11. In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will, 12Verse 12. in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, would be for the praise of His glory. 13Verse 13. And in Him, having heard and believed the word of truth — the gospel of your salvation — you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14Verse 14. who is the pledge of our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession, to the praise of His glory.

14Verse 14. Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15Verse 15. Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16Verse 16. But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen from the dead!” 17Verse 17. For Herod himself had ordered that John be arrested and bound and imprisoned, on account of his brother Philip’s wife Herodias, whom Herod had married. 18Verse 18. For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife!” 19Verse 19. So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she had been unable, 20Verse 20. because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John’s words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly. 21Verse 21. On Herod’s birthday, her opportunity arose. Herod held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22Verse 22. When the daughter of Herodias came and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests, and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23Verse 23. And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” 24Verse 24. Then she went out and asked her mother, “What should I request?” And her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25Verse 25. At once the girl hurried back to the king with her request: “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 26Verse 26. The king was consumed with sorrow, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27Verse 27. So without delay, the king commanded that John’s head be brought in. He sent an executioner, who went and beheaded him in the prison. 28Verse 28. The man brought John’s head on a platter and presented it to the girl, who gave it to her mother. 29Verse 29. When John’s disciples heard about this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.