CHAPTER 6
When
the Sabbath
came,
He began
to teach
in
the
synagogue,
and
many
who heard Him
were astonished.
“Where did
this man get
these ideas?”
they asked.
“What is
this
wisdom
He has been given?
And how can
He perform
such
miracles?
Isn’t
this
the
carpenter,
the
son
of Mary
and
the brother
of James,
Joseph,
Judas,
and
Simon?
Aren’t
His
sisters
here
with
us
as well?"
And
they took offense
at
Him.
Then
Jesus
told
them,
“A prophet
is
without honor
only
in
his
hometown,
among
his
relatives,
and
in
his
own
household.”
So
He could not
perform
any
miracles
there,
except
to lay
His
hands
on a few
of the sick
and heal them.
Then
Jesus called
the
Twelve to Him
and
began
to send them out
two
by two,
giving
them
authority
over
unclean
spirits.
He instructed
them
to
take
nothing
but
a staff
for
the journey—
no
bread,
no
bag,
no
money
in
their
belts—
If
anyone
will not welcome
you
or
listen to
you,
shake
the
dust
off
your
feet
when you leave
that
place,
as
a testimony
against them.”
Now
King
Herod
heard about this,
for
Jesus’
name
had become
well known,
and
people were saying,
“John
the
Baptist
has risen
from
the dead!
That
is why
miraculous powers
are at work
in
him."
Others
said,
“He is
Elijah,”
and
still others,
“He is a prophet,
like
one
of the
prophets of old.”
For
Herod
himself
had ordered
that
John
be arrested
and
bound
and imprisoned,
on account of
his
brother
Philip’s
wife
Herodias,
whom
Herod had married.
because
Herod
feared
John
and
protected
him,
knowing
he was
a righteous
and
holy
man.
When
he heard
John’s words,
he was greatly perplexed;
yet
he listened
to him
gladly.
On
Herod’s
birthday,
her opportunity
arose.
Herod
held
a banquet
for
his
nobles
and
military commanders,
as well as
the
leading men
of Galilee.
When
the
daughter
of Herodias
came
and
danced,
she pleased
Herod
and
his guests,
and
the
king
said
to the
girl,
“Ask
me
for whatever
you wish,
and
I will give it
to you."
Then
she went out
and said
to her
mother,
“What
should I ask for?”
And
Herodias answered,
“The
head
of John
the
Baptist.”
At once
the girl hurried back
to
the
king
with her request:
“I want
you to give
me
the
head
of John
the
Baptist
on
a platter
immediately.”
The
king
was
overwhelmed with sorrow,
but because of
his
oaths
and
his guests,
he did not want
to refuse
her.
So
without delay,
the
king
commanded that
John’s
head
be brought in.
He sent
an executioner
who went
and beheaded
him
in
the
prison.
The man brought
John’s
head
on
a platter
and
presented
it
to the
girl,
who
gave
it
to her
mother.
Meanwhile,
the
apostles
gathered
around
Jesus
and
brought Him news
of all
they had done
and
taught.
And
He said
to them,
“Come
with Me
privately
to
a solitary
place,
and
let us rest
for a while.”
For
many people
were
coming
and
going,
and
they did not even have time
to eat.
But
many people
saw
them
leaving
and
recognized them.
They ran together
on foot
from
all
the
towns
and
arrived before
them.
When
Jesus stepped ashore
and saw
a large
crowd,
He had compassion
on
them,
because
they were
like
sheep
without
a shepherd.
And
He began
to teach
them
many things.
By now
the hour
was
already
late.
So the
disciples
came
to Jesus
and said,
“This
is
a desolate
place,
and
the hour
is already
late.
Dismiss
the crowd
so
they can go
to
the
surrounding
countryside
and
villages
and buy
themselves
something
to eat.”
But
Jesus told
them,
“You
give
them
something to eat.”
They asked
Him,
“Should we go out
and spend
two hundred
denarii
to give
all of them
bread
to eat?”
“Go
and see
how many
loaves
you have,”
He told
them.
And
after checking
they said,
“Five,
and
two
fish.”
Taking
the
five
loaves
and
the
two
fish
and looking up
to
heaven,
Jesus spoke a blessing
and
broke
the
loaves.
Then
He gave them
to
His
disciples
to
set before
the people.
And
He divided
the
two
fish
among them all.
Immediately
Jesus made
His
disciples
get
into
the
boat
and
cross over ahead of Him
to
Bethsaida,
while
He
dismissed
the
crowd.
He could see that
the disciples
were straining
to row,
because
the
wind
was
against
them.
About
the fourth
watch
of the
night,
Jesus went out
to
them,
walking
on
the
sea.
He intended
to pass by
them,
for
they all
saw Him
and
were terrified.
But
Jesus spoke up
at once:
“Take courage!
It is
I.
Do not
be afraid.”
Then
He climbed
into
the
boat
with
them,
and
the
wind
died down.
And
the disciples were utterly
astounded,
And
wherever
He went—
villages
and
towns
and
countrysides—
they laid
the
sick
in
the
marketplaces
and
begged
Him
to let them just touch
the
fringe
of His
cloak.
And
all
who
touched
Him
were healed.