在拿撒勒被拒絕

耶穌離開那地方,來到自己的家鄉,他的門徒們也跟著他。 到了安息日,他開始在會堂裡教導人。許多人聽了就驚嘆不已,說:「這個人從哪裡得來這些呢?賜給這個人的到底是什麼樣的智慧?藉著他的手所行出來的到底是怎麼樣的神蹟? 這不就是那木匠嗎?不就是瑪麗亞的兒子,雅各約西猶大西門的哥哥[a]嗎?他的妹妹們[b]不也和我們在這裡嗎?」這樣,他們就對耶穌很反感[c]

耶穌對他們說:「先知除了在本鄉、本族、本家以外,沒有不受尊重的。」 所以,耶穌無法在那裡行什麼神蹟,只是按手在幾個病人身上,使他們痊癒。 因為他們的不信,耶穌十分感慨。

差派十二使徒

於是,他就走遍各村莊四處教導人。 耶穌召來十二使徒[d],開始差派他們兩個兩個地出去,賜給他們權柄勝過汙靈, 並且吩咐他們說:「在路上除了手杖什麼都不要帶。不要帶食物,不要帶行囊,腰包裡也不要帶錢。 要穿上鞋子。不要穿兩件衣服[e]。」 10 他又對他們說:「無論在哪裡,你們進了一家,就要住在哪裡,直到離開那地方。 11 如果有什麼地方的人不接受你們,也不聽你們,你們離開那裡的時候,要把腳底的塵土跺掉,做為對他們的見證。[f]

12 使徒們就出去宣講道:人人都當悔改。 13 他們驅趕了很多鬼魔,又用油來膏抹許多病人,使他們痊癒。

施洗約翰之死

14 耶穌的名聲被傳揚出去,希律王也聽見了。有些人[g]說:「施洗者[h]約翰從死人中復活了,所以這些能力在他裡面做工。」 15 也有些人說:「他是以利亞。」還有些人說:「他是個先知,像古代[i]先知中的一位。」

16 希律聽了卻說:「是被我砍了頭的約翰!這個人[j]復活了!」 17 原來,希律為了他弟弟[k]菲利普的妻子希羅迪婭的緣故,曾經派人去拘捕約翰,把他捆鎖在監獄裡。希律娶了這個女人, 18 約翰一直對希律說:「你占有自己兄弟的妻子是不可以的。」 19 所以希羅迪婭約翰懷恨在心,想要殺他,只是不能。 20 這是因為希律敬畏約翰,知道他是義人,是聖人,所以保護著他。希律約翰講說的時候,雖然心裡十分困惑[l],還是樂意聽他的。

21 可是時機來了。希律在自己生日那天預備宴席,招待他的大臣和軍官們,以及加利利的首領們。 22 希羅迪婭的女兒[m]進來跳舞,使希律和一同坐席的人都非常喜悅。王就對女孩說:「你無論想要什麼,向我求,我就會給你。」 23 並且對她鄭重地起誓:「你無論向我求什麼,即使是我國家的一半,我也會給你!」

24 於是女孩出去問她母親說:「我應該要什麼呢?」

她母親說:「要施洗者[n]約翰的頭!」

25 女孩隨即趕快進到王那裡,要求說:「我願王立即把施洗者[o]約翰的頭放在盤子裡給我。」

26 王就變得很憂愁,但因所起的誓,又因坐席的人,就不好拒絕她。 27 於是王立刻派了劊子手,命令把約翰的頭拿來。劊子手就去,在監獄裡砍下了約翰的頭, 28 把他的頭放在盤子上,端給女孩,女孩就把它交給了母親。 29 約翰的門徒們聽到了,就來把他的遺體領去,安放在墳墓裡。

五餅二魚

30 使徒們聚集到耶穌那裡,把他們所做的和教導的一切告訴了他。 31 耶穌對他們說:「來,你們自己單獨到一個荒僻的地方休息一會兒吧。」這是因為來往的人多,他們連吃飯的時間也沒有。 32 於是他們悄悄地坐船出發,往一個荒僻的地方去。 33 可是眾人[p]看見他們離開了,並且有許多人認出他們[q],就從各城鎮一起徒步趕往那裡,而且比他們先到了[r] 34 耶穌下了船,看見一大群人,就對他們動了憐憫之心,因為他們像羊沒有牧人那樣。耶穌就開始教導他們很多事。

35 天已經晚了,他的門徒們來到耶穌面前,說:「這是個荒僻的地方,而且天已經晚了。 36 請遣散大家,好讓他們到周圍的田舍和村莊去,為自己買些東西吃[s]。」

37 但耶穌回答他們,說:「你們給他們吃的吧。」

門徒們說:「要我們去買兩百個銀幣[t]的餅給他們吃嗎?」

38 耶穌問他們:「你們有多少餅呢?去看看。」

他們察看後,就說:「有五個,還有兩條魚。」

39 耶穌吩咐他們,叫眾人一組一組地坐在青草地上。 40 眾人就一群一群地坐了下來,有的一百人,有的五十人。 41 耶穌拿起這五個餅和兩條魚,抬頭望天,祝福了,然後把餅掰開,不斷遞給他的門徒們,讓他們分給眾人。他把兩條魚也分給大家。 42 大家都吃了,並且吃飽了。 43 他們把餅和魚的碎塊收拾起來,裝滿了十二個籃子。 44 吃餅的人,男人就有五千。

在水面上行走

45 耶穌隨即催促他的門徒們上船,要他們先往對岸的伯賽達去;這期間,他自己遣散了人群。 46 他告別了他們,就上山去禱告。 47 到了晚上,船在湖[u]中,只有耶穌一個人在岸上。 48 他看見門徒們由於逆風,划船非常艱苦。天快亮的時候[v],耶穌在湖面上行走,向他們而去,想要從他們旁邊走過去。 49 門徒們看見耶穌在湖面上行走,以為是幽靈,於是喊叫起來, 50 因為他們都看見了他,就驚慌不安。耶穌立刻與他們講話,對他們說:「鼓起勇氣吧!是我,不要怕。」 51 接著,耶穌上了船和他們在一起。這時候風就停了。門徒們心裡感到極其驚訝[w] 52 因為他們不領悟分[x]餅的事,他們還是硬著心。

在革尼撒勒治病

53 他們渡過去,到革尼撒勒上岸,把船拴好。 54 一下船,眾人就認出了耶穌。 55 人們跑遍那整個地區,聽到耶穌在哪裡,就把有病的人用墊子抬到哪裡。 56 無論耶穌進到哪裡,或村莊、或城鎮、或鄉下,人們就把病人放在街市上,懇求耶穌只要讓他們摸一下他的衣服穗子。凡是摸著的人,都得了救治。

Footnotes

  1. 馬可福音 6:3 哥哥——原文直譯「兄弟」。
  2. 馬可福音 6:3 妹妹——原文直譯「姐妹」。
  3. 馬可福音 6:3 對耶穌很反感——原文直譯「因耶穌被絆倒」。
  4. 馬可福音 6:7 使徒——輔助詞語。
  5. 馬可福音 6:9 衣服——或譯作「襯袍」。
  6. 馬可福音 6:11 有古抄本附「我確實地告訴你們:在那審判的日子,所多瑪和格摩拉所受的,將要比那城還容易受呢!」
  7. 馬可福音 6:14 有些人——有古抄本作「他」。
  8. 馬可福音 6:14 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  9. 馬可福音 6:15 古代——輔助詞語。
  10. 馬可福音 6:16 有古抄本附「從死人中」。
  11. 馬可福音 6:17 弟弟——原文直譯「兄弟」。
  12. 馬可福音 6:20 心裡十分困惑——有古抄本作「做了許多事」。
  13. 馬可福音 6:22 希羅迪婭的女兒——有古抄本作「他的女兒希羅迪婭」。
  14. 馬可福音 6:24 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  15. 馬可福音 6:25 施洗——或譯作「施浸」。
  16. 馬可福音 6:33 有古抄本沒有「眾人」。
  17. 馬可福音 6:33 他們——有古抄本作「他」。
  18. 馬可福音 6:33 有古抄本附「並聚集到他那裡」。
  19. 馬可福音 6:36 為自己買些東西吃——有古抄本作「為自己買些餅,因為他們沒有東西吃」。
  20. 馬可福音 6:37 兩百個銀幣——原文為「200得拿利」。1得拿利=約1日工資的羅馬銀幣。
  21. 馬可福音 6:47 湖——原文直譯「海」;指「加利利湖(海)」。
  22. 馬可福音 6:48 天快亮的時候——原文直譯「夜裡四更天」;指「早晨三點至六點之間」。
  23. 馬可福音 6:51 有古抄本附「又詫異」。
  24. 馬可福音 6:52 分——輔助詞語。

Jesus at last arrives at the miracle He was asked to perform: the healing of Jairus’s daughter. But He is too late—the girl is already dead. Although Jesus later raises other dead people back to life, up to this point He has not yet performed such a powerful miracle. No one has an inkling of His power over the forces of life and death. He allows only His closest disciples to see this first miracle of resurrection, and He urges everyone who sees it to keep it quiet. Nevertheless, it is this miracle that first demonstrates to those who see it that He does indeed have power over death itself.

Jesus went back into His own hometown where He had grown up, and His disciples followed Him there. When the Sabbath came, He went into the synagogue in Nazareth and began to teach as He had done elsewhere, and many of those who heard Him were astonished.

Those in the Synagogue: Where did He gain this wisdom? And what are all these stories we’ve been hearing about the signs and healings He’s performed? Where did He get that kind of power? Isn’t this Jesus, the little boy we used to see in Joseph’s carpenter shop? Didn’t He grow up to be a carpenter just like His father? Isn’t He the son of Mary over there and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, Simon, and their sisters? Who does He think He is?

And when they had thought about it that way, they became indignant and closed themselves to His message.

Jesus (seeing this): A prophet can find honor anywhere except in his hometown, among his own people, and in his own household.

He could not do any of His great works among them except with a few of the sick, whom He healed by laying His hands upon them. He was amazed by the stubbornness of their unbelief.

Jesus went out among the villages teaching, and He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out in pairs. He gave them authority over unclean spirits and instructed them to take nothing with them but a staff: no money, no bread, no bag, nothing but the sandals on their feet and the coat[a] on their back.

Jesus: 10 When you go into a house, stay there until it is time for you to leave that town. 11 And if someone will not accept you and your message, when you leave, shake off the dust of that place from your feet as a judgment against it. [On the day of judgment, that city will wish for the punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah.][b]

12 And so His disciples went out into the countryside, preaching the changed life[c] as Jesus had taught them, 13 casting out unclean spirits and anointing the sick with oil to heal them.

14 Jesus had become so well known that King Herod received reports of all that Jesus was doing. Some were saying[d] that John the Baptist[e] had been raised from the dead and that these mighty works were the fruits of his resurrection.

Others (disagreeing): 15 No, this Jesus is Elijah, returned to work on the earth.

And still others said He was another of the prophets.

Herod (to himself): 16 No, it is John, the prophet I beheaded, risen from the dead.

For the blood of John was on his hands. 17-18 Herod had imprisoned John in the days before Jesus began His teaching. John had preached to Herod that he should not have married his own brother’s wife, Herodias, for so it is written in the Hebrew Scriptures: “It is not lawful for one to marry his brother’s wife.”[f]

19 Herodias held a grudge against John and would have had him killed, but she couldn’t. 20 Herod feared John as a holy and righteous man and did what he could to protect him. John taught hard truths,[g] and yet Herod found he usually liked hearing them.

So Herod had put John in prison instead of executing him; 21-22 and there John sat until Herod’s birthday, when the governor held a great state dinner. That night, Herod’s stepdaughter danced beautifully for the state officials; and the king proclaimed a solemn vow in the presence of his honored guests, military officers, and some of the leading men of Galilee.

Herod: Ask me whatever you wish, and I will grant it. 23 Whatever you want, I will give you—up to half my province.

24 She went out and consulted with her mother, Herodias, who had only one great desire and told her daughter what she must say.

Herod’s Stepdaughter (immediately, in response to Herod): 25 I want the head of John the Baptist[h]—right now—delivered to me on a platter.

26 Herod was horrified, but he had sworn an oath and could not break his word in front of his invited guests. 27 So immediately he sent an executioner to the prison to behead John and bring them the head. 28 It was brought to the girl upon a platter, and she took it to her mother.

29 When John’s disciples were told of this, they came for his body and gave it a proper burial.

30 Now the twelve returned from their travels and told Him what they had done, whom they had seen, and how they had spread the news of God’s kingdom.

Jesus (to the disciples): 31 Let us go out into the wilderness for a while and rest ourselves.

The crowds gathered as always, and Jesus and the twelve couldn’t eat because so many people came and went. 32 They could get no peace until they boarded a boat and sailed toward a deserted place.

33 But the people would not be put off so easily. Those along the shore who recognized Jesus followed along the coast. People pushed out of all the cities and gathered ahead of Him 34 so that when Jesus came ashore and saw this crowd of people waiting for Him in a place that should have been relatively deserted, He was moved with compassion. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

He began to teach them many things 35 as the day passed; at last the disciples came to Jesus.

Disciples: It is getting late, and there is nothing around for miles. 36 Send these people to the surrounding villages so they can buy something to eat.

Jesus: 37 Why don’t you give them something to eat?

Disciples (looking at Him): What? It would cost a fortune[i] to buy bread for these people!

Jesus: 38 Does anyone have any bread? Go and see.

Disciples (returning from the crowd): There are five pieces of flatbread and two fish, if that makes any difference.

Jesus: 39-40 Listen, tell them to gather in smaller groups and sit on that green patch of grass.

And so the disciples gathered the people in groups of 100 or of 50, and they sat down.

41 Jesus took the five pieces of flatbread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, thanked God for the food, and broke it. He gave the pieces to the disciples to distribute, 42 and all of the people ate until no one was hungry. 43 Then they gathered twelve baskets full of leftovers.

44 That day, 5,000 men ate their fill of the bread when Jesus fed the hungry crowd.

The disciples pull Jesus aside to point out the obvious: everyone needs to go and eat something.

But Jesus, as usual, isn’t about to be distracted by the obvious. His answer must irritate them even further: “Why don’t you give them something to eat?” Jesus is seeing a much bigger reality. He is deliberately creating a turning point in His ministry: He wants to make them a part of His miracles. From recorders and observers, they will become participants. And so the disciples, not Jesus, tell the people to sit down, pass out the food, and collect the leftovers after everyone has eaten until they are stuffed. The disciples must feel pretty sheepish as they experience how Jesus is making them a part of the miracle—despite their mundane concerns and their frustrations with Him.

45 Not long after, He sent His disciples out onto their boat to sail to Bethsaida on the other shore, and He sent the crowd away. 46 After everyone had gone, He slipped away to pray on a mountain overlooking the sea.

47 When evening came, the boat was out on the sea and He was alone on the land. 48 He saw that the disciples were making little progress because they were rowing against a stiff wind. Before daylight He came near them, walking on the water, and would have passed by them. 49 Some of them saw Him walking on the surface of the water, thought He was a ghost, and cried out. 50 When they all saw Him, they were terrified.

Jesus (immediately calling out): Don’t be frightened. Do you see? It is I.

51 He walked across the water to the boat; and as soon as He stepped aboard, the contrary wind ceased its blowing. They were greatly astonished; 52 although they had just witnessed the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 with bread and fish, and other signs besides, they didn’t understand what it all meant and their hearts remained hard.

How can the disciples still be in doubt about Jesus after having been part of so many miracles? Like the Israelites in the Old Testament, the disciples are discovering the truth that miracles don’t produce faith. As Jesus so often points out, the process works the other way around: it’s faith that produces miracles. Miracles are only signs—evidence of truth that you have to know before the miracle. As long as the disciples are still in doubt about who Jesus is, they find their faith constantly challenged and frequently wavering. It will not be until after the resurrection, the greatest miracle of all, that they will come to recognize and believe in Jesus for who He is; and then their hearts will at last open.

53 When they finished their journey, they landed the boat in Gennesaret. 54 People at once recognized Jesus as the Healer. 55 Immediately they hurried to collect the sick and infirm—bringing them to Him in beds if they had to— 56 laying them out in the markets of any village, city, or field where He might pass.

Gennesarites: Just let us touch the fringe of Your robe.

Even the people who touched only it were made whole again.

Footnotes

  1. 6:9 Literally, “not to wear two tunics”
  2. 6:11 Some of the earliest manuscripts omit this portion.
  3. 6:12 Literally, repentance
  4. 6:14 Some of the earliest manuscripts read “He was saying.”
  5. 6:14 Literally, John who immersed, to show repentance
  6. 6:17–18 Leviticus 18:16; 20:21
  7. 6:20 Some early manuscripts read “he did many things.”
  8. 6:25 Literally, John who immersed, to show repentance
  9. 6:37 Literally, 200 denarii, Roman coins

耶稣在本乡遭人厌弃(A)

耶稣离开那里,来到自己的家乡,他的门徒跟着他。 到了安息日,他开始在会堂里教导人;很多人听见了,都惊奇地说:“这个人从哪里得来这一切呢?所赐给他的是怎么样的智慧,竟然借着他的手行出这样的神迹? 这不是那木匠吗?不是马利亚的儿子,雅各、约西、犹大、西门的哥哥吗?他的妹妹们不也在我们这里吗?”他们就厌弃耶稣。 耶稣对他们说:“先知除了在自己的本乡、本族、本家之外,没有不受人尊敬的。” 耶稣不能在那里行甚么神迹,只给几个病人按手,医好了他们。 对于那些人的不信,他感到诧异。

差遣十二使徒(B)

耶稣到周围的乡村去继续教导人。 他把十二门徒叫来,差遣他们两个两个地出去,赐给他们胜过污灵的权柄; 吩咐他们说:“除了手杖以外,路上甚么都不要带,不要带干粮,不要带口袋,腰袋里也不要带钱, 只穿一双鞋,不要穿两件衣服。” 10 又对他们说:“你们无论到哪里,进了一家就住在那家,直到离开那个地方。 11 甚么地方不接待你们,不听你们,你们离开那地方的时候,就要把脚上的灰尘跺下去,作为反对他们的见证。” 12 门徒就出去传道,叫人悔改, 13 赶出许多鬼,用油抹了许多病人,医好他们。

施洗约翰被杀(C)

14 当时耶稣的名声传扬出去,希律王也听到了。有人说:“施洗的约翰从死人中复活了,所以他身上有行神迹的能力。” 15 又有人说:“他是以利亚。”还有人说:“他是先知,像古时先知中的一位。” 16 希律听见就说:“是约翰,我砍了他的头,他又活了!” 17 原来希律曾亲自派人去捉拿约翰,把他捆锁在监里。他这样作,是为了他弟弟的妻子希罗底的缘故,因为他娶了希罗底为妻, 18 而约翰曾对希律说:“你占有你兄弟的妻子是不合理的。” 19 于是希罗底怀恨在心,想要杀他,只是不能。 20 因为希律惧怕约翰,知道他是公义圣洁的人,就保护他。希律听了约翰的话,就非常困扰,却仍然喜欢听他。 21 有一天,机会来了。在希律生日的那一天,他为大臣、千夫长和加利利的要人摆设了筵席。 22 希罗底的女儿进来跳舞,使希律和在座的宾客都很开心。王就对女孩子说:“你无论想要甚么,只管向我求,我一定给你!” 23 并且对她再三起誓:“你无论向我求甚么,就是我国的一半,我也一定给你!” 24 于是她出去问母亲:“我该求甚么呢?”希罗底告诉她:“施洗的约翰的头!” 25 她急忙到王面前,向王要求说:“愿王立刻把施洗的约翰的头放在盘子上给我!” 26 希律王非常忧愁,但是因为他的誓言和在座的宾客,就不愿拒绝她。 27 希律王立刻差遣一个侍卫,吩咐把约翰的头拿来。侍卫就去了,在监里斩了约翰的头, 28 把头放在盘子上,拿来交给那女孩子,女孩子又交给她的母亲。 29 约翰的门徒听见了,就来把他的尸体领去,安放在坟墓里。

给五千人吃饱的神迹(D)

30 使徒们回来聚集在耶稣跟前,把他们所作和所教导的一切都报告给他听。 31 耶稣对他们说:“来,你们自己到旷野去休息一下。”因为来往的人多,他们甚至没有时间吃饭。 32 他们就悄悄地上了船,到旷野去了。 33 群众看见他们走了,有许多人认出了他们,就从各城出来,跑到那里,比他们先赶到。 34 耶稣一下船,看见一大群人,就怜悯他们,因为他们好象羊没有牧人一样,就开始教导他们许多事。 35 天晚了,门徒前来对他说:“这里是旷野的地方,天已经很晚了, 36 请叫他们散开,好让他们往周围的田舍村庄去,自己买点东西吃。” 37 耶稣回答他们:“你们给他们吃吧!”门徒说:“要我们去买两百银币的饼给他们吃吗?” 38 耶稣说:“去看看你们有多少饼!”他们知道了,就说:“五个饼,还有两条鱼。” 39 耶稣吩咐他们叫大家分组坐在青草地上。 40 他们就一排一排地坐了下来,有一百的,有五十的。 41 耶稣拿起这五个饼、两条鱼,望着天,祝谢了;然后把饼擘开,递给门徒摆在群众面前,又把两条鱼也分给群众。 42 大家都吃了,并且吃饱了。 43 他们把剩下的零碎捡起来,装满了十二个篮子, 44 吃饼的人,男人就有五千。

耶稣在海面上行走(E)

45 事后耶稣立刻催门徒上船,叫他们先渡到对岸的伯赛大去,等他自己叫众人散开。 46 他离开了他们,就上山去祷告。 47 到了晚上,船在海中,耶稣独自在岸上, 48 看见门徒辛辛苦苦地摇橹,因为风不顺。天快亮的时候(“天快亮的时候”原文作“夜里四更天”),耶稣在海面上向他们走去,想要赶过他们。 49 门徒看见他在海面上走,以为是鬼怪,就喊叫起来; 50 因为他们都看见了他,非常恐惧。耶稣立刻对他们说:“放心吧!是我,不要怕。” 51 于是上了船,和他们在一起,风就平静了。门徒心里十分惊奇, 52 因为他们还不明白分饼这件事的意义,他们的心还是迟钝。

治好革尼撒勒的病人(F)

53 他们渡过了海,就在革尼撒勒靠岸, 54 一下船,众人立刻认出耶稣来, 55 就跑遍那一带地方,把有病的人放在褥子上,听见他在哪里,就抬到哪里。 56 耶稣无论到甚么地方,或村庄,或城市,或乡野,众人都把病人放在街上,求耶稣准他们摸他衣服的繸子,摸着的人就都好了。

And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

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

14 And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

15 Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

16 But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

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

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

20 For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

21 And when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

22 And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

23 And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

24 And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist.

25 And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist.

26 And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath’s sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

27 And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

28 And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

29 And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

30 And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught.

31 And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

32 And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

33 And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

34 And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.

35 And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

36 Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

37 He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?

38 He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

39 And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

40 And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties.

41 And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

42 And they did all eat, and were filled.

43 And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

44 And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45 And straightway he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent away the people.

46 And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

47 And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

48 And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them.

49 But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:

50 For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

51 And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

52 For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.

53 And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

54 And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him,

55 And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

56 And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.