1 J esus went from the house of Jairus and came to His home town. His followers came after Him.

Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him.

2 O n the Day of Rest He began to teach in the Jewish place of worship. Many people heard Him. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get all this? What wisdom is this that has been given to Him? How can He do these powerful works with His hands?

And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing 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!

3 I s He not a Man Who makes things from wood? Is He not the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Do not His sisters live here with us?” The people were ashamed of Him and turned away from Him.

Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

4 J esus said to them, “One who speaks for God is respected everywhere but in his own country and among his own family and in his own house.”

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.”

5 S o Jesus could do no powerful works there. But He did put His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

Now He could do no mighty work there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6 H e wondered because they had no faith. But He went around to the towns and taught as He went. Jesus Calls Twelve Followers and Sends Them Out

And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching. Sending Out the Twelve

7 J esus called the twelve followers to Him and began to send them out two by two. He gave them power over demons.

And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

8 H e told them to take nothing along with them but a walking stick. They were not to take a bag or food or money in their belts.

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

9 T hey were to wear shoes. They were not to take two coats.

but to wear sandals, and not to put on two tunics.

10 H e said to them, “Whatever house you go into, stay there until you leave that town.

Also He said to them, “In whatever place you enter a house, stay there till you depart from that place.

11 W hoever does not take you in or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet. By doing that, you will speak against them. For sure, I tell you, it will be easier for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day men stand before God and are judged than for that city.”

And whoever will not receive you nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”

12 T hen they left. They preached that men should be sorry for their sins and turn from them.

So they went out and preached that people should repent.

13 T hey put out many demons. They poured oil on many people that were sick and healed them. John the Baptist Is Put in Prison

And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick, and healed them. John the Baptist Beheaded

14 K ing Herod heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about Him. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why he is doing such powerful works.”

Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known. And he said, “John the Baptist is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.”

15 O ther people said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is one who speaks for God like one of the early preachers.”

Others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets.”

16 W hen Herod heard this, he said, “It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead.”

But when Herod heard, he said, “This is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

17 F or Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip.

For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her.

18 J ohn the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Because John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 H erodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not.

Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not;

20 H erod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled. John the Baptist Is Killed

for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 T hen Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come.

Then an opportune day came when Herod on his birthday gave a feast for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.

22 T he daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.”

And when Herodias’ daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and those who sat with him, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”

23 T hen he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.”

He also swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24 S he went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.”

So she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

25 A t once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”

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.”

26 H erod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him.

And the king was exceedingly sorry; yet, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he did not want to refuse her.

27 A t once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head.

Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded his head to be brought. And he went and beheaded him in prison,

28 H e took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother.

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

29 J ohn’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it. The Feeding of the Five Thousand

When his disciples heard of it, they came and took away his corpse and laid it in a tomb. Feeding the Five Thousand

30 T he followers of Jesus came back to Him. They told Jesus all they had done and taught.

Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and told Him all things, both what they had done and what they had taught.

31 H e said to them, “Come away from the people. Be by yourselves and rest.” There were many people coming and going. They had had no time even to eat.

And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.

32 T hey went by themselves in a boat to a desert.

So they departed to a deserted place in the boat by themselves.

33 M any people saw them leave and knew who they were. People ran fast from all the cities and got there first.

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him.

34 W hen Jesus got out of the boat, He saw many people gathered together. He had loving-pity for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things.

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

35 T he day was almost gone. The followers of Jesus came to Him. They said, “This is a desert. It is getting late.

When the day was now far spent, His disciples came to Him and said, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late.

36 T ell the people to go to the towns and villages and buy food for themselves.”

Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread; for they have nothing to eat.”

37 H e said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Are we to go and buy many loaves of bread and give it to them?”

But He answered and said to 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 them something to eat?”

38 H e said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have here? Go and see.” When they knew, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.”

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.”

39 T hen He told them to have all the people sit down together in groups on the green grass.

Then He commanded them to make them all sit down in groups on the green grass.

40 T hey sat down in groups of fifty people and in groups of one hundred people.

So they sat down in ranks, in hundreds and in fifties.

41 J esus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to the followers to set before the people. He divided the two fish among them all.

And when He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and the two fish He divided among them all.

42 T hey all ate and were filled.

So they all ate and were filled.

43 A fter that the followers picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish.

And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fish.

44 A bout five thousand men ate the bread. Jesus Walks On The Water

Now those who had eaten the loaves were about five thousand men. Jesus Walks on the Sea

45 A t once Jesus had His followers get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to the town of Bethsaida. He sent the people away.

Immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while He sent the multitude away.

46 W hen they were all gone, He went up to the mountain to pray.

And when He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

47 I t was evening. The boat was half-way across the sea. Jesus was alone on the land.

Now when evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

48 H e saw His followers were in trouble. The wind was against them. They were working very hard rowing the boat. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the sea. He would have gone past them.

Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by.

49 W hen the followers saw Him walking on the water, they thought it was a spirit and cried out with fear.

And when they saw Him walking on the sea, they supposed it was a ghost, and cried out;

50 F or they all saw Him and were afraid. At once Jesus talked to them. He said, “Take hope. It is I, do not be afraid.”

for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He talked with them and said to them, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”

51 H e came over to them and got into the boat. The wind stopped. They were very much surprised and wondered about it.

Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

52 T hey had not learned what they should have learned from the loaves because their hearts were hard. People Are Healed at Gennesaret

For they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened. Many Touch Him and Are Made Well

53 T hen they crossed the sea and came to the land of Gennesaret and went to shore.

When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.

54 W hen Jesus got out of the boat, the people knew Him at once.

And when they came out of the boat, immediately the people recognized Him,

55 T hey ran through all the country bringing people who were sick on their beds to Jesus.

ran through that whole surrounding region, and began to carry about on beds those who were sick to wherever they heard He was.

56 W herever He went, they would lay the sick people in the streets in the center of town where people gather. They begged Him that they might touch the bottom of His coat. Everyone who did was healed. This happened in the towns and in the cities and in the country where He went.

Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were made well.