Then the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to release a prisoner for them, as was his custom.

He swore to her, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

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

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

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him and said, “Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”

For this reason I tell you, whatever you pray and ask for, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

But Jesus said to them, “You don’t know what you are asking! Are you able to drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I experience?”

Joseph of Arimathea, a highly regarded member of the council, who was himself looking forward to the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.