Why was St John the Baptist beheaded?

Answer 1

A:Many good men in history have died at the hands of their enemies. The Jewish historian Josephus said that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. In other words, on strong moral grounds, John willingly placed himself in the position where he was at risk of arrest and execution. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE.

Answer 2

A:Herod Antipas had John the Baptist imprisoned in remote Macherus and executed out of fear that he was stirring the Jews up for rebellion. John had publicly criticised Herod Antipas' marriage to his own brother's former wife, Herodias. The wedding took place in 34 CE and Antipas ordered John to be executed in 35 or 36 CE. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews, by the first-century historian, Josephus:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Answer 3

According to the gospels, Herodias had a quarrel with John the Baptist and would have killed him if she could but, at a royal party for the senior men of Galilee, told her daughter to ask for his head on a platter.

This account differs from that of the Jewish historian Josephus, who says that Herod Antipas had the Baptist arrested and killed in the castle of Macherus, east of the Dead Sea, because he disapproved of Antipas' marriage to his own brother's wife, who divorced her husband in order to marry Herod Antipas. The wedding took place in 34 CE and the execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews: "Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Josephus does not tell us how John was executed, so we return to the Christian gospels for the answer. There, we are told that he was beheaded, but that this took place in Galilee at the very beginning of Jesus' mission, probably around 29 CE. The gospels agree that John the Baptist was arrested because he disagreed with Herod Antipas' marriage, but say that Antipas did not intend to kill him, only doing so at the behest of the daughter of Herodias. Since the gospels are in error as to the place and year of John's execution, as well as the reason for his execution, it is at least possible that he was not beheaded.

Answer 4

he didn't do anything to get beheaded, the kings daughter asked for his head and she got it.

Answer

According to the gospels, Herod Antipas had John the Baptist imprisoned for publicly criticising his marriage to Herodias, his own brother's former wife, but had no intention of actually hurting him. In this account, John was beheaded because Herodias got her daughter to trick Herod into committing to his execution.

The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus, tells the story rather differently. First of all, the wedding took place in 34 CE and King Aretus of Nabatea attacked Herod's forces in 36 CE, an event which the Jews thought to be divine retribution for the execution of John the Baptist, so he must have been executed in 35 or 36 CE, although not necessarily by beheading. Herod Antipas feared that John was stirring the Jews up for rebellion, and for this reason wished to have him killed as soon as possible and in as remote a location as possible. The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of the Jews:

"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Answer 5

A:The gospels say that John the Baptist died by beheading, at the request of Herodias, who sought to have John's head on a platter. To us, this is a gruesome and undignified way to die, but at least it would have been quick and preferable to crucifixion. However, there is some historical doubt about the story of John's death, as told in the gospels, and therefore some doubt over the manner of his death.

The first-century Jewish historian, Josephus says inBook 18 of

Antiquities of the Jewsthat John the Baptist was imprisoned in the remote fortress of Macherus, out of fear that he would stir up a rebellion among the Jews, and that he was executed there:

"

Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

A principal cause of John's imprisonment was his public criticism of Herod's marriage to his own brother's former wife, which took place in 34 CE, and it appears that John was imprisoned in 35 or early 36 CE. This is long after the traditional time of Jesus' crucifixion and, while John might well have been beheaded, there is no suggestion that his head was taken all the way to Galilee on a platter. It seems that the gospel account has added some elaboration to events that happened.

Answer 6

Mark 6:22-26New King James Version (NKJV)

22 And when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23 He also swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

24 So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"

And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."

26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

Answer 7

The Jewish historian, Josephus, tells us that John the Baptist was arrested and executed in Macherus on the orders of Herod Antipas, because he objected to the marriage in 34 CE to Herodias, the former wife of Herod Antipas' brother. The execution of John would have been in 35 or 36 CE.

The relevant text from Book 18 of Antiquities of theJews:"Now many people came in crowds to him, for they were greatly moved by his words. Herod, who feared that the great influence John had over the masses might put them into his power and enable him to raise a rebellion (for they seemed ready to do anything he should advise), thought it best to put him to death. In this way, he might prevent any mischief John might cause, and not bring himself into difficulties by sparing a man who might make him repent of it when it would be too late. Accordingly John was sent as a prisoner, out of Herod's suspicious temper, to Macherus, the castle I already mentioned, and was put to death."

Answer 8

Another answer from our community:He told Herod that having his brother's wife (his sister-in-law). Herod didn't like it so imprisoned him. Then Herod had him beheaded.

Answer 9

No woman cut John's head off, but rather demanded it be done. Evil people make their choices as they always have and will, but will not ultimately get away with it.

Answer 10

God did not do it. Evil Satan did.