Mark 6

He left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished and said, “Where did this man get these things? What is this wisdom given to him? And how are such miracles done through his hands? Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” He could do no miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. He marveled at their unbelief. Then he went around the surrounding villages, teaching. He called the twelve to him and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over the unclean spirits. He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no copper coins in their belts— but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics. He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, shake off the dust beneath your feet as you leave there, as a testimony to them.” They went out and proclaimed that people should repent. They cast out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil, and healed them. King Herod heard of him, for his name had become known. People were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” Others said, “He is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets.” But when Herod heard, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” For Herod himself had sent and seized John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but could not. For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, yet he listened to him gladly. An opportune day came when Herod gave a birthday dinner for his high officials, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee. The daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, pleasing Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” He swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She said, “The head of John the Baptist.” Immediately she hurried in to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests he did not want to refuse her. Immediately the king sent an executioner and ordered him to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard, they came, took his body, and laid it in a tomb. The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and all they had taught. He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a little.” For many were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. But many saw them going and recognized them. They ran there together on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. When he came ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. When it was already very late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it is already very late. Send them away to go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” He answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy bread for two hundred denarii—about two hundred days’ wages—and give them something to eat?” He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” He ordered them to have everyone recline in groups on the green grass. They reclined in groups of a hundred and of fifty. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, spoke a blessing, and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of pieces, and also some of the fish. Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men. Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. After saying farewell to them, he went up the mountain to pray. When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. He saw them straining at the oars, for the wind was against them. About three in the morning he came toward them, walking on the sea, and he intended to pass by them. When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out, for they all saw him and were alarmed. But immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” He got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were utterly astonished within themselves, for they had not understood about the loaves, but their heart was hardened. When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. When they stepped out of the boat, people immediately recognized him and ran throughout that whole region. They began carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Wherever he entered villages or towns or countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak. And all who touched him were made well.

Rights and attribution