Mark 6:6-29

Christian Standard Bible

⁶ And he was amazed^(A) at their unbelief.^(B) He was going around the villages teaching.^(C)

Commissioning the Twelve

⁷ He^(D) summoned^(E) the Twelve^(F) and began to send^(G) them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean^(H) spirits.^{(I) 8} He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff—no bread, no traveling bag,^(J) no money in their belts, ⁹ but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.^{(K) 10} He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ If any place does not welcome^(L) you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet^(M) as a testimony^(N) against them.”^{[a] 12} So they went out and preached^(O) that people should repent.^{(P) 13} They drove out many demons,^(Q) anointed^(R) many sick^(S) people with oil^(T) and healed them.^(U)

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King^(V) Herod^(W) heard about it, because Jesus’s name^(X) had become well known. Some^[b] said, “John the Baptist^(Y) has been raised from the dead,^(Z) and that’s why miraculous powers^(AA) are at work^(AB) in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He’s Elijah.”^(AC) Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”^(AD)

¹⁶ When Herod^(AE) heard of it, he said, “John,^(AF) the one I beheaded, has been raised!” ^(AG)

¹⁷ For^(AH) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain^(AI) him in prison on account of Herodias,^(AJ) his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.^{(AK) 18} John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful^(AL) for you to have your brother’s wife.”^{(AM) 19} So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill^(AN) him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod feared^(AO) John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous^(AP) and holy^(AQ) man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed,^[c](AR) and yet he liked to listen to him.^(AS)

²¹ An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet^(AT) for his nobles,^(AU) military commanders,^(AV) and the leading men of Galilee.^{(AW) 22} When Herodias’s own daughter^[d] came in and danced,^(AX) she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He promised her with an^(AY) oath:^(AZ) “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(BA)

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s^(BB) head,” she said.

²⁵ At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s^(BC) head on a platter^(BD) immediately.” ²⁶ Although the king was deeply distressed,^(BE) because of his oaths^(BF) and the guests^[e] he did not want to refuse^(BG) her. ²⁷ The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples^(BH) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(BI)