Mark 6:1-30

11Jesus went out from there and came into 23His hometown; and His disciples followed Him. 2And when the Sabbath came, He began 4to teach in the synagogue; and 5the 6many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man learn these things, and what is this wisdom that has been given to Him, and such 7miracles as these performed by His hands? 3Is this not 8the carpenter, 9the son of Mary and brother of 10James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are 11His sisters not here with us?” And they took 12offense at Him. 4Jesus said to them, “13A prophet is not dishonored except in 1415his hometown and among his own relatives, and in his own household.” 5And He could not do any 16miracle there except that He 17laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And He was amazed at their unbelief.

18And He was going around the villages, teaching.

719And 20He summoned the twelve and began to send them out 21in pairs, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits; 822and He instructed them that they were to take nothing for their journey, except a mere staff--no bread, no 23bag, no money in their belt-- 9but 24to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not wear two 25tunics.” 10And He said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you 26leave town. 11Any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, 27shake the dust 28off the soles of your feet as a testimony against them.” 1229And they went out and 30preached that people are to repent. 13And they were casting out many demons and 31were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

1432And King Herod heard about it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “33John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.” 15But others were saying, “He is 34Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is 35a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16But when Herod heard about it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

17For Herod himself had sent men and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of 36Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “37It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19And 38Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death, and could not do so; 20for 39Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he had been protecting him. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; and yet he 40used to enjoy listening to him. 21An opportune day came when Herod, on his birthday, 41held a banquet for his nobles and military commanders, and the leading people 42of Galilee; 22and when the daughter of 43Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and 44his dinner guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask of me, I will give it to you, up to 45half of my kingdom.” 24And she went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25Immediately she came in a hurry to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26And although the king was very sorry, because of his oaths and 46his dinner guests, he was unwilling to refuse her. 27Immediately the king sent an executioner and commanded him to bring back his head. And he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard about this, they came and carried away his body, and laid it in a tomb.

3047The 48apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.