Mark 6
1 Jesus left there and went to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.
2 When the Sabbath came, he began teaching in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished and said, “Where did this man get all this? What is this wisdom he has been given? And what are these miracles happening through his hands?
3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own home.”
5 He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.
6 He was amazed at their lack of faith. Then he went around teaching in the surrounding villages.
7 He called the twelve and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority over the impure spirits.
8 He ordered them to take nothing for the journey except a staff: no bread, no bag, and no money in their belts.
9 They were to wear sandals. “And don’t put on two tunics.”
10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.
11 And if any place does not welcome you or listen to you, as you leave, shake the dust from beneath your feet as a testimony against them.”
12 They went out and proclaimed that people should repent.
13 They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil, and healed them.
14 King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’ name had become known. People were saying, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him.”
15 Others were saying, “He is Elijah.” Still others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets.”
16 When Herod heard this, he said, “That John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”
17 Herod himself had sent men to arrest John and had him chained in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.
18 For John had been saying to Herod, “You are not allowed to have your brother’s wife.”
19 Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not.
20 Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and protected him. Whenever he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, yet he liked listening to him.
21 Then an opportune day came: on his birthday, Herod held a banquet for his high officials, commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.
22 Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, pleasing Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”
23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me for, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24 She went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptizer.”
25 She hurried straight in to the king and asked, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter right now.”
26 The king was deeply grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.
27 At once the king sent a guard with orders to bring John’s head.
28 He 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.
29 When John’s disciples heard about it, they came, took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
30 The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him all they had done and taught.
31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest for a little while.” For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32 So they went by boat to a deserted place by themselves.
33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.
34 When Jesus came ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it is already late.
36 Send them away so they can go to the farms and villages nearby and buy something to eat.”
37 But he answered, “You yourselves give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Should we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?”
38 He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” After checking, they said, “Five, and two fish.”
39 Then he ordered everyone to sit down in groups on the green grass.
40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties.
41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves, and kept giving them to the disciples to serve to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 Everyone ate and was satisfied.
43 They gathered up twelve baskets full of pieces, and some of the fish as well.
44 Those who ate the loaves numbered five thousand men.
45 Immediately afterward, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, toward Bethsaida, while he sent the crowd away.
46 After saying goodbye to them, he went up the mountain to pray.
47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land.
48 He saw them struggling to row, because the wind was against them. In the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea, and intended to pass by them.
49 But when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought he was a ghost and cried out.
50 For they all saw him and were terrified. But he immediately spoke to them: “Take courage! It is I; don’t be afraid.”
51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely overwhelmed.
52 For they had not understood what had happened with the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53 After crossing over, they came to the land at Gennesaret and moored there.
54 As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized him.
55 They ran throughout that whole region and began carrying the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was.
56 Wherever he went—in villages, towns, or countryside—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him to let them touch even the edge of his garment. And all who touched him were healed.
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