Mark 6

Jesus Rejected at Nazareth

1Then Jesus left that place and went to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is this wisdom that has been given to ahim?” and, “Such miracles as these are being done by his hands! 3Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own household.” 5So he could do no miracles there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles

Then Jesus went around among the villages teaching. 7He summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits. 8He instructed them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bknapsack, no bread, and no copper money in their belts. 9He told them to wear sandals but not an extra tunic. 10He also said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11If canyone will not receive you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet as you leave that place as a testimony against them. dTruly I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that city.” 12So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13They also cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

The Death of John the Baptist

14Now King Herod heard about this, for Jesus' name had become known, and ehe said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these mighty powers are at work in him.” 15Others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, flike one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard this, he said, “ gThis is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised hfrom the dead.”

17For Herod himself had sent men to arrest John and chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom Herod had married. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for yoʋ to have yoʋr brother's wife.” 19So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, but she was not able to do so. 20For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When Herod listened to John, he would listen to him gladly iand do many things.

21But an opportune day came. On his birthday Herod prepared a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the prominent men of Galilee. 22When jthe daughter of Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. So the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever yoʋ wish, and I will give it to yoʋ.” 23He swore to her, “Whatever yoʋ ask me, I will give to yoʋ, up to half my kingdom.” 24So she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25Immediately the girl came in with haste to the king and made her request, saying, “I want yoʋ to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26The king was very sad, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to reject her. 27So the king immediately sent an executioner and commanded that John's head be brought back. 28The executioner then went and beheaded John in the prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. And the girl gave it to her mother. 29When John's disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

30Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all they had done and taught. 31Then he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest for a little while.” For many people were coming and going, and Jesus and his apostles did not even have an opportunity to eat. 32So kthey went away in lthe boat to a desolate place by themselves. 33Now mmany saw them going away and recognized nJesus. They ran together on foot from all the otowns, got there ahead of them, and then gathered around him. 34When Jesus went ashore and saw a large crowd, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

35When the hour was already quite late, his disciples came to him and said, “This place is desolate, and the hour is now late. 36Send the people away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves psome bread, for they have nothing to eat.” 37But Jesus answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39Then he directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing. He broke the loaves and gave them to qhis disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were filled, 43and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces and of the fish. 44Now those who had eaten the loaves were rfive thousand men.

Jesus Walks on Water

45Immediately Jesus compelled his disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the sea, to Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away. 46After taking leave of them, he went to the mountain to pray. 47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48sHe saw the disciples straining as they rowed, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and intended to pass them by. 49But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and cried out. 50For they all saw him and were terrified. But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid.” 51Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly tand completely amazed uand in awe; 52for they did not understand the significance of what had happened with the loaves, vbecause their hearts were hardened.

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

53When they had crossed the sea, they came to wthe land of Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54When they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 55So the people ran around throughout the entire xsurrounding region and began to carry the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went, to villages, cities, or the countryside, they would lay the sick in the marketplaces and beg him to let the sick touch even the fringe of his garment. And all who touched it were healed.