"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; and he sent and beheaded John in the prison." Matthew 14:8-10 ASV
<p>Illustration of John the Baptist, having just been unshackled, kneeling in prayer while a soldier waits to behead him with an axe. . A shaft of light beams down on John. Salome can be seen just outside the archway with a platter in her hands.

John the Baptist Prays in Prison Just Before His Beheading

"And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.…

"...behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son." Matthew 2:13-15
<p>Illustration of Joseph leading a donkey that is carrying Mary as she holds baby Jesus in her arms. They are travelling on a road made of stone and Joseph is carrying a staff. The donkey is laden with a basket and small container. The city of Bethlehem is in the background. An angel came to Joseph while he was sleeping and told him to flee from Herod who had ordered all of the infants in the area be killed.

Joseph Leads Mary and Jesus on the Road to Egypt as They Flee from King Herod

"...behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young…

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had exactly learned of the Wise-men." Matthew 2:16 ASV
<p>Illustration of Herod's soldiers murdering baby boys as their mothers weep. One soldier wrenches a boy away from his mother as a young girl tries to stop him. Mothers cry over and hold their murdered babies. The city walls and stairways are visible in the background.

The Slaughter of the Innocents - Herod Has All of the Baby Boys Killed

"Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the Wise-men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and…

"And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought he saw a vision. And when they were past the first and the second guard, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth into the city; which opened to them of its own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and straightway the angel departed from him." Acts 12:9-10 ASV
<p>Illustration of Peter being led out of the door to the prison by a glowing angel with wings. Inside the door, soldiers and guards are asleep on the floor inside an arched, domed prison. The city street opens into the distance.

Peter Emerges from Prison after Being Saved by an Angel

"And he went out, and followed; and he knew not that it was true which was done by the angel, but thought…

"And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

11 And Herod with his soldiers set him at nought, and mocked him, and arraying him in gorgeous apparel sent him back to Pilate." Luke 23:10-11 ASV
<p>Illustration of Jesus standing before Herod and being clothed in a beautiful robe. Herod is sitting on a throne and wearing a crown. Priests and scribes sit and stand around the throne, making their cases to Herod. Soldiers stand behind Jesus with spears. There are arches and drapery in the background.

Jesus is Mocked by Herod Before Being Sent Back to Pontius Pilate

"And the chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him. 11 And Herod with his soldiers…