And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, “I will that thou forthwith give me on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

And the king was exceeding sorry; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat, he would not reject her.  And straightway the king sent forth a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring his head:  and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the damsel; and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard thereof, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb; and they went and told Jesus.

FORGIVENESS OF THE REPENTANT WOMAN.

And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him.  And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.  And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment, and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Now when the Pharisee that had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would have perceived who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him, that she is a sinner.”

And Jesus answering said unto him, “Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee.”

And he saith, “Teacher, say on.”

“A certain lender had two debtors:  the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.  When they had not wherewith to pay, he forgave them both.  Which of them therefore will love him most?”

Simon answered and said, “He, I suppose, to whom he forgave the most.”

And he said unto him, “Thou hast rightly judged.”  And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, “Seest thou this woman?  I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet:  but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.  Thou gavest me no kiss:  but she, since the time I came in, hath not ceased to kiss my feet.  My head with oil thou didst not anoint:  but she hath anointed my feet with ointment.  Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much:  but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”

And he said unto her, “Thy sins are forgiven.”

And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves,
“Who is this that even forgiveth sins?”

And he said unto the woman, “Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.”

THE MINISTERING WOMEN.

And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities:  Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.