Mark 6:1–29

Rejected at Nazareth

6And he went out from there and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him. ²And when^* the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him^* were amazed, saying, “Where did this man get these things? And what is this wisdom that has been granted to this man, and the miracles such as these performed through his hands? ³Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they were offended by him. ⁴And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own household.” ⁵And he was not able to do any miracle in that place except to lay his^a hands on a few sick people and^* heal them.^{* 6}And he was astonished because of their unbelief.

The Twelve Commissioned and Sent Out

And he was going around among the villages teaching. ⁷And he summoned the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸And he commanded them that they take along nothing for the journey except only a staff—no bread, no traveler’s bag, no money in their^b belts—⁹but to put on sandals and not to wear two tunics. ¹⁰And he said to them, “Whenever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. ¹¹And whatever place does not welcome you or listen to you, as you^* go out from there, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” ¹²And they went out and^* proclaimed that people^* should repent. ¹³And they were expelling many demons and anointing many sick people with olive oil and healing them.^*

Herod Kills John the Baptist

¹⁴And King Herod heard it,^* because his name had become known. And they were saying, “John, the one who baptizes, has been raised from the dead, and because of this these miraculous powers are at work in him.” ¹⁵But others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and others were saying, “He is a prophet like one of the prophets.” ¹⁶But when^* Herod heard it,^* he said, “John whom I beheaded—this one has been raised!” ¹⁷For Herod himself had sent and^* arrested John and bound him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her. ¹⁸For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not permitted for you to have your brother’s wife.” ¹⁹So Herodias held a grudge against him and was wanting to kill him, and was not able to do so. ²⁰For Herod was afraid of John, because he^* knew him to be a righteous and holy man and protected him. And when he^* listened to him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him gladly. ²¹And a suitable day came when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers and military tribunes and the most prominent men of Galilee. ²²And when^c the daughter of Herodias herself^d came in and danced and pleased^e Herod and his dinner guests,^f the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it^* to you.” ²³And he swore to her,^g “Anything whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom!” ²⁴And she went out and^* said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” ²⁵And she came in immediately with haste to the king and^* asked, saying, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” ²⁶And although he^* was deeply grieved, the king, because of his^h oaths and dinner guests,ⁱ did not want to refuse her. ²⁷And immediately the king sent an executioner and^* ordered him^* to bring his head. And he went and^* beheaded him in the prison. ²⁸And he brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹And when^* his disciples heard this,^* they came and took away his corpse and placed it in a tomb.