Section
XVIII.
[1] At that time Herod
the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, and all the things which came
to pass at his hand; and he marvelled, for he had obtained excellent [2] information concerning him. And some men said that John the Baptist was risen [3] from among the dead; and others said that Elijah had appeared; and others, Jeremiah; [4] and others, that a prophet of the old prophets was risen; and others said that he [5] was a prophet like one of the prophets. Herod said to his servants, This is John the Baptist, he whom I beheaded; he is risen from among the dead: therefore mighty [6] [Arabic, p. 70] works result from him. For Herod himself had sent and taken John, and cast him into prison, for the sake of Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, whom he [7] had taken. And John said to Herod, Thou hast no authority to take the wife of thy [8] brother. And Herodias avoided him and wished to kill him; and she could not. [9] But Herod feared John, for he knew that he was a righteous man and a holy; and [10] he guarded him, and heard him much, and did, and obeyed him with gladness. And he wished to kill him; but he feared the people, for they adhered to him as the [11] prophet. And there was a celebrated day, and Herod had made a feast for his great men on the day of his anniversary, and for the officers and for the chief men [12] of Galilee. And the daughter of Herodias came in and danced in the midst of the company, and pleased Herod and those that sat with him. And the king said to the [13] damsel, Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, [14] Whatsoever thou shalt ask, I will give it thee, to the half of my kingdom. And she went out, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask him? She said unto her, The [15] head of John the Baptist. And immediately she came in hastily to the king, and said unto him, I desire in this hour that thou give me on a dish the head of John [16] the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; but because of the oath and the [17] guests he did not wish to refuse her. But immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded that he should bring the head of John: and he went and cut off [18] the head of John in the prison, and brought it on a dish, and delivered it to the [19] damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother. And his disciples heard, and came [Arabic, p. 71] and took his body, and buried it. And they came and told Jesus what [20] had happened. And for this cause Herod said, I beheaded John: who [21] is this, of whom I hear these things. And he desired to see him. And Jesus, when he heard, removed thence in a boat to a waste place alone, to the other side of the sea of the Galilee of Tiberias.
[22] And many saw them
going, and knew them, and hastened by land
from all the cities, and came thither beforehand; for they saw the signs which he was doing on the [23, 24] sick. And Jesus went up into the mountain, and sat there with his disciples. And [25] the feast of the passover of the Jews was near. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and saw great multitudes coming to him. And he was moved with compassion for them, for [26] they were like sheep that were without a shepherd. And he received them, and spake to them concerning the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.