Mark 6

1He went away from there and came to his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2And when the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to him, that such mighty works are performed by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5Now he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And he marveled because of their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.

7And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no money in their belts— 9but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them." 12So they went out and preached that people should repent. 13And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.

14King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some said, "John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!" 17For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." 19And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his high officers and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22And when the daughter of 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." 23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom." 24So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!" 25Immediately she came in with haste to the king and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26And the king was exceedingly sorry; but, because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27And immediately the king sent an executioner and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

30The apostles gathered to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat. 32So they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33But many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things. 35When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36Send them away, so they can go to the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves something to eat." 37But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?" 38But he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish." 39Then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups, of hundreds and fifties. 41And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all. 42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46And after he had left them, he went up on the mountain to pray. 47When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land. 48And he saw the disciples straining at the oars, for the wind was against them. About the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He was about to pass by them, 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 immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid." 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened. 53When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55and ran about that whole region, and began to carry those who were sick around on pallets to wherever they heard he was. 56Wherever he entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched him were made well.