In the wilderness ¹  John the baptizer ²  began preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. ³ 

So ¹  she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother ²  said, “The head of John the baptizer.” ³ 

Now ¹  King Herod ²  heard this, for Jesus’ ³  name had become known. Some ⁴  were saying, “John the baptizer ⁵  has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.”

In those days John the Baptist came into the wilderness ¹  of Judea proclaiming,

Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them about John the Baptist.

Instructed by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”

They answered, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, ¹  and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

They said, ¹  “John the Baptist, others say Elijah, ²  and still others, one of the prophets.”

For John the Baptist has come ¹  eating no bread and drinking no wine, ²  and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ³ 

and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead! And because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: ¹  “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.”

They ¹  answered, ²  “John the Baptist; others say Elijah; ³  and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.” ⁴ 

“I tell you the truth, ¹  among those born of women, no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least ²  in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he is.

When ¹  the men came to Jesus, ²  they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you to ask, ³  ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” ⁴ 

I tell you, among those born of women no one is greater ¹  than John. ²  Yet the one who is least ³  in the kingdom of God ⁴  is greater than he is.”