²And when the Sabbath was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were in admiration at his doctrine, saying: How came this man by all these things? and what wisdom is this that is given to him, and such mighty works as are wrought by his hands?

³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joseph, and Jude, and Simon? are not also his sisters here with us? And they were scandalized in regard of him.

⁴And Jesus said to them: A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and in his own house, and among his own kindred.

⁵And he could not do any miracles there, only that he cured a few that were sick, laying his hands upon them.

⁶And he wondered because of their unbelief, and he went through the villages round about teaching.

⁷And he called the twelve; and began to send them two and two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

⁸And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way, but a staff only; no scrip, no bread, nor money in their purse,

⁹But to be shod with sandals, and that they should not put on two coats.

¹⁰And he said to them: Wheresoever you shall enter into an house, there abide till you depart from that place.

¹¹And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you; going forth from thence, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony to them.

¹²And going forth they preached men should do penance:

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

¹⁴And king Herod heard, (for his name was made manifest,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again from dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him.

¹⁵And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is a prophet, as one of the prophets.

¹⁶Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.

¹⁷For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.

¹⁸For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

¹⁹Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death and could not.

²⁰For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a just and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.

²¹And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the princes, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.

²²And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

²³And he swore to her: Whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give thee, though it be the half of my kingdom.

²⁴Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But her mother said: The head of John the Baptist.

²⁵And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith thou give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.

²⁶And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:

²⁷But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.

²⁸And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave to the damsel, and the damsel gave it her mother.

²⁹Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

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