Common - Mark - 6

6:1  He went away from there and came to his own country, and his disciples followed him.

6:2  And 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!

6:3  Is 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.

6:4  But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house."

6:5  Now he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6:6  And he marveled because of their unbelief. Then he went around the villages teaching.

6:7  And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

6:8  He commanded them to take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bag, no bread, no money in their belts—

6:9  but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

6:10  And he said to them, "Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.

6:11  And 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."

6:12  So they went out and preached that people should repent.

6:13  And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.

6:14  King 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."

6:15  But others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."

6:16  But when Herod heard, he said, "This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"

6:17  For 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.

6:18  For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife."

6:19  And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

6:20  for 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.

6:21  But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his high officers and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee.

6:22  And 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."

6:23  And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

6:24  So she went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"

6:25  Immediately 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."

6:26  And the king was exceedingly sorry; but, because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to refuse her.

6:27  And immediately the king sent an executioner and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,

6:28  and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

6:29  When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

6:30  The apostles gathered to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.

6:31  And 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.

6:32  So they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.

6:33  But many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them.

6:34  When 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.

6:35  When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.

6:36  Send them away, so they can go to the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves something to eat."

6:37  But 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?"

6:38  But he said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."

6:39  Then he commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.

6:40  So they sat down in groups, of hundreds and fifties.

6:41  And 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.

6:42  And they all ate and were satisfied.

6:43  And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.

6:44  Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men.

6:45  Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd.

6:46  And after he had left them, he went up on the mountain to pray.

6:47  When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on land.

6:48  And 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,

6:49  but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;

6:50  for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I; do not be afraid."

6:51  Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were completely amazed,

6:52  for they had not understood about the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.

6:53  When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there.

6:54  And when they got out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him,

6:55  and ran about that whole region, and began to carry those who were sick around on pallets to wherever they heard he was.

6:56  Wherever 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.