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

He went out from there. He came into 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?

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 is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about 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.

Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” 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.”

Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and 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.

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

He marveled because of their unbelief. He went around the villages teaching.

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

He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the 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 that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,

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

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

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

He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.

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.”

Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell 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.

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

They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.

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.”

King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, “John the Baptizer has 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.”

But others said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is a 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 Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen 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 out and arrested 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.”

For John 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.

Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,

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 righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he 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 a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper 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.”

When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “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 swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of 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.”

She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.”

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.”

She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer 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.

The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish 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 out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the 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.

and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady 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 this, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

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

The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever 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.

He said to them, “You come apart into a deserted place, and rest awhile.” For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

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

They went away in the boat to a deserted place 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.

They saw them going, and many recognized 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.

Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and 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 it was late in the day, his disciples came to him, and said, “This place is deserted, and it is late in the day.

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 them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked 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.”

He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go see.” When they knew, 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.

He commanded them that everyone should 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.

They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by 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.

He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all.

42 T hey all ate and were filled.

They all ate, and were filled.

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

They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish.

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

Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

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 to go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away.

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

After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.

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

When evening had come, 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.

Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea, and he would have passed by them,

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

but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that 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 he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t 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.

He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, 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 hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

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 land at Gennesaret, and moored to the shore.

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

When they had come 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.

and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick, on their mats, to where 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, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch just the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.