Mark 6:1–29

REJECTION AT NAZARETH

6 Heaq left there and came to his hometown,ar and his disciplesas followed him. 2 When the Sabbathat came, he began to teachau in the synagogue,av and many who heard him were astonished. “Where did this man get these things?” they said. “What is this wisdomaw that has been given to him, and how are these miraclesax performed by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter,ay the son of Mary,az and the brother of James,ba Joses, Judas,bb and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” So they were offendedbc by him.

4 Jesus said to them, “A prophetbd is not without honorbe except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” 5 He was not able to do a miraclebf there, except that he laid his hands onbg a few sickbh people and healedbi them. 6 And he was amazedbj at their unbelief.bk He was going around the villages teaching.bl

COMMISSIONING THE TWELVE

7 Hebm summonedbn the Twelvebo and began to sendbp them out in pairs and gave them authority over uncleanbq spirits.br 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag,bs no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.bt 10 He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 If any place does not welcomea you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feetb as a testimonyc against them.”A 12 So they went out and preachedd that people should repent.e 13 They drove out many demons,f anointedg many sickh people with oili and healed them.j

JOHN THE BAPTIST BEHEADED

14 Kingk Herodl heard about it, because Jesus’s namem had become well known. SomeB said, “John the Baptistn has been raised from the dead,o and that’s why miraculous powersp are at workq in him.” 15 But others said, “He’s Elijah.”r Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”s

16 When Herodt heard of it, he said, “John,u the one I beheaded, has been raised!”v

17 Forw Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chainx him in prison on account of Herodias,y his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.z 18 John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawfulaa for you to have your brother’s wife.”ab 19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to killac him. But she could not, 20 because Herod fearedad John and protected him, knowing he was a righteousae and holyaf man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed,C,ag and yet he liked to listen to him.ah

21 An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquetai for his nobles,aj military commanders,ak and the leading men of Galilee.al 22 When Herodias’s own daughterD came in and danced,am she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23 He promised her with anan oath:ao “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”ap

24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’saq head,” she said.

25 At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’sar head on a platteras immediately.” 26 Although the king was deeply distressed,at because of his oathsau and the guestsA he did not want to refuseav her. 27 The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, 28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciplesaw heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.ax