Mark 6

1He departed from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astounded, saying, "Where does this man get these things from, and what is the wisdom given to him, that such mighty works are done through his hands?"

3Isn't this the carpenter, Mary's son and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Aren't his sisters here with us? They took offense at him.

4Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house."

5And he could perform no miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6And he was amazed at their unbelief. And he went about the surrounding villages, teaching.

7And he summoned the twelve and began sending them out in pairs, and he gave them authority over unclean spirits.

8And he commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff only—no bread, no bag, no money in the belt.

9but wear sandals, and do not put on two tunics.

10And he said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, remain there until you depart from there."

11And whatever place does not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them.

12And they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

13They cast out many demons, anointed many sick with oil, and healed them.

14King Herod heard about him, for his name had become well known, and they were saying, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these powers are at work in him."

15But others were saying that he is Elijah, while others were saying that he is a prophet, like one of the prophets.

16But when Herod heard, he said, “John, whom I beheaded—this one has risen.”

17For Herod himself had sent and seized John, then bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, since he had married her.

18For John kept telling Herod, “It is not permissible for you to have your brother's wife.”

19So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not.

20For Herod was afraid of John, perceiving him to be a righteous and holy man, and he protected him; and when he heard many things from him, perplexed though he was, he listened to him gladly.

21And when an opportune day arrived, Herod held a banquet on his birthday for his nobles, the commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.

22When Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, pleasing Herod and those reclining at table with him, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you wish, and I will give it to you."

23And he swore to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

24And she went out and said to her mother, "What should I request?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist."

25And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me right now on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

26And the king was deeply grieved, but because of the oaths and those reclining at table, he did not want to refuse her.

27And immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring his head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison.

28and he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.

29And when his disciples heard, they came and took up his corpse and placed it in a tomb.

30And the apostles gathered together to Jesus and reported to him all they had done and all they had taught.

31And he said to them, “Come by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a little.” For many were coming and many departing, and they had no time even to eat.

32And they departed in the boat to a desolate place by themselves.

33And many saw them departing and recognized him, and ran there on foot from all the cities and got there ahead of them.

34And when he came out, he saw a vast crowd and felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, so he began to teach them many things.

35When the hour was already late, his disciples came to him and said, "This place is desolate, and the hour is already late."

36Dismiss them, that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.

37But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Shall we go buy loaves for two hundred denarii and give them something to eat?”

38He said to them, “How many loaves have you? Go look.” And when they knew, they said, “Five, and two fish.”

39And he commanded them to have all sit down group by group on the green grass.

40And they sat down in ranks of hundreds and ranks of fifties.

41Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked toward heaven, blessed, broke the loaves, and handed them to his disciples to place before them, and he distributed the two fish to everyone.

42And all ate and were satisfied.

43And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and also of the fish.

44And those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.

45And immediately he compelled his disciples to board the boat and go ahead to the other side toward Bethsaida, while he himself dismissed the crowd.

46And after bidding them farewell, he went to the mountain to pray.

47And when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land.

48Seeing them distressed as they rowed—for the wind was against them—he came to them about the fourth watch of the night, walking on the sea, and wanted to pass by them.

49But seeing him walking on the sea, they thought it was a spirit and cried out.

50For they all saw him and were troubled, but immediately he spoke with them and said to them, "Take courage, I am he; do not fear."

51He climbed aboard the boat with them, the wind ceased, and they were exceedingly astonished among themselves beyond measure.

52For they had not understood about the loaves, but their heart was hardened.

53And when they had crossed over to the land, they came to Gennesaret and moored.

54And when they got out of the boat, they immediately recognized him.

55They ran through that whole region and began carrying those who were sick on their mats wherever they heard he was.

56And wherever he entered villages, cities, or the countryside, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and everyone who touched him was healed.