Mark 6:6-29

6And he was amazed at their unbelief. He was going around the villages teaching.

7He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean spirits.

8He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff — no bread, no traveling bag, no money in their belts,

9but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.

10He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.

11If any place does not welcome you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

12So they went out and preached that people should repent.

13They drove out many demons, anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

14King Herod heard about it, because Jesus’s name had become well known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

15But others said, “He’s Elijah.” Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”

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

17For Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.

18John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not,

20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed, and yet he liked to listen to him.

21An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet for his nobles, military commanders, and the leading men of Galilee.

22When Herodias’s own daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.”

23He promised her with an oath: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”

24She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” “John the Baptist’s head,” she said.

25At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s head on a platter immediately.”

26Although the king was deeply distressed, because of his oaths and the guests he did not want to refuse her.

27The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,

28brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.

29When John’s disciples heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.