Herod was astonished and confounded. The riotous mirth ceased, and an ominous silence settled down upon the scene of revelry. The king was horror-stricken at the thought of taking the life of John. Yet his word was pledged, and he was unwilling to appear fickle or rash. The oath had been made in honor of his guests, and if one of them had offered a word against the fulfillment of his promise, he would gladly have spared the prophet. He gave them opportunity to speak in the prisoner's behalf. They had traveled long distances in order to hear the preaching of John, and they knew him to be a man without crime, and a servant of God. But though shocked at the girl's demand, they were 222 too besotted to interpose a remonstrance. No voice was raised to save the life of Heaven's messenger. These men occupied high positions of trust in the nation, and upon them rested grave responsibilities; yet they had given themselves up to feasting and drunkenness until the senses were benumbed. Their heads were turned with the giddy scene of music and dancing, and conscience lay dormant. By their silence they pronounced the sentence of death upon the prophet of God to satisfy the revenge of an abandoned woman.

Herodes blev forbavset og forfærdet. Den larmende munterhed standsede, og en uhyggelig stilhed sænkede sig over festsalen. Kongen var rædselsslagen ved tanken om at skulle berøve Johannes livet. Men han havde givet sit ord, og han ønskede ikke at vise sig vankelmodig, eller som om han havde handlet overilet. Han havde aflagt eden til ære for sine gæster, og hvis en af dem havde ytret et ord imod opfyldelsen af hans løfte, ville han med glæde have skånet profeten. Han gav dem lejlighed til at tale til fordel for fangen. De havde foretaget lange rejser for at høre Johannes prædike, og de vidste, at han var en mand uden skyld og en Guds tjener. Men skønt de blev rystede over pigens forlangende, var de for berusede til at fremkomme med indvendinger. Ingen røst hævede sig for at frelse det himmelske sendebuds liv. Disse mænd indtog højt betroede stillinger blandt folket, og der påhvilede dem et alvorligt ansvar; men alligevel havde de ladet sig overvælde af svir og drik, indtil deres sanser var sløvede. De var fortumlede af den kåde munterhed med musik og dans, og deres samvittighed slumrede. Ved deres tavshed fældede de dødsdommen over Guds profet for at tilfredsstille en lastefuld kvindes hævntørst.