Mark 6
EasyEnglish Bible
Jesus goes to Nazareth
6 Jesus left that place. He went to his own town. His disciples went with him.[a]
2 When it was the Jewish day of rest, Jesus went to their meeting place. He began to teach the people who were there. Many of them were surprised about the things that he was saying to them. They said to each other, ‘How did this man learn all these things? How did he become so wise? How does he do all these powerful things? 3 We know he is an ordinary man. He is the carpenter.[b] He is the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Simon and Judas. His sisters live here in the town among us. Isn't that true?’ So the people there turned against Jesus.
4 Then Jesus said to them, ‘If a man is a prophet from God, people everywhere will respect him. But the people in his own town will not accept him. Even his own people and his own family will not respect him.’
5 Jesus could not do any powerful miracles in his own town. But he did put his hands on a few sick people and he made them well. 6 Jesus was very surprised because the people there would not believe in him.
Then he went to visit the other villages that were near there. He was teaching the people who lived in those villages.
Jesus sends the 12 apostles to tell God's message
7 Jesus asked his 12 apostles to come to him. He started to send them out to tell God's message to people. He sent them out two by two and he gave them authority over bad spirits.
8 Jesus told the disciples, ‘Only take a stick for the journey, nothing else. Do not take any bread or a bag. Do not take any money in your pockets. 9 Wear shoes but do not take extra clothes. 10 In each town, stay at the first house that you go into. Continue to stay there until you leave that town. 11 Perhaps you might go to a town where the people do not accept you. They will not listen to you. So you should leave that town. Clean that town's dirt off your feet. Then it will be clear that they have done something wrong.’
12 So the 12 apostles went out. They told people that they must change the way that they live. They must stop doing wrong things. 13 The disciples caused many bad spirits to come out of people. They also put olive oil on many sick people, and the sick people became well.
Herod kills John the Baptist
14 People were talking about Jesus. King Herod heard about what was happening.[c] Some people were saying that Jesus was really John the Baptist. They said that John had died, but he had become alive again. ‘That is why this man can do these very powerful things,’ they said.
15 Other people said, ‘This man is Elijah.’ And other people said, ‘He is a prophet. He is like one of God's prophets who lived a long time ago.’[d]
16 But when someone told Herod, he said, ‘This man is surely John. I sent a soldier to cut off his head. But he has become alive again!’
17 Herod himself had sent his soldiers to take hold of John. He had said to his soldiers, ‘Tie his hands and feet and put him in prison.’ Herod had done that because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of Herod's brother, Philip. But Herod had married her. 18 John had said to him, ‘Herodias is your brother's wife. It is not right for you to have her as your wife.’[e]
19 So Herodias was angry with John. She wanted to kill him. But she could not do that, 20 because Herod was afraid of John. Herod knew that John was a good man and a servant of God. So Herod kept John safe. Herod liked to listen to the things that John said. But he did not know what to think about those things.
21 One day, Herodias had her chance. It was Herod's birthday and he asked many people to come to a special meal. Important men and officers came. The rulers from Galilee were also there. 22 The daughter of Herodias came in and she danced. Herod and his visitors were very happy when they saw her dance.
King Herod said to the girl, ‘Ask me for anything that you want. I will give it to you.’ 23 He made a strong promise, ‘I will give you anything that you ask me to give to you. I will even give you half of everything that I rule over.’
24 The girl went out and she said to her mother, ‘What should I ask him for?’ Her mother replied, ‘Ask for the head of John the Baptist.’
25 The girl went quickly to Herod and she said to him, ‘I want the head of John the Baptist. Put it on a plate! Do it now!’
26 Then Herod felt very sad. Because he had made a special promise, he did not want to refuse her. All his visitors had heard him. 27 So immediately, the king sent a soldier to go to John. The king told the soldier that he must bring John's head. So the soldier went to the prison and he cut off John's head there. 28 Then he brought it back on a plate. He gave it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29 People told John's disciples about what had happened. So they went to the prison. They took away John's body and they buried it.
Jesus gives food to 5,000 men and their families
30 The apostles all came to Jesus. They told him about all the things that they had done. And they told him what they had taught. 31 Many people were coming to Jesus and then going away. Jesus and his disciples were too busy even to eat. So Jesus said to them, ‘Come with me to a place where there are no other people. We should be alone together. Then we can rest for a short time.’
32 So they left all the people behind. They went away in a boat together to a quiet place. 33 But many people saw that they were leaving the town. Those people recognized them. So they ran out from all the towns around there. They went on land and reached the place before Jesus and the disciples. 34 Jesus got out of the boat and he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them. He thought to himself, ‘These people are like sheep that have nobody to take care of them.’ So he began to teach them many things.
35 When it was almost evening time, Jesus' disciples came and said to him, ‘We are in a place where there are no houses. Soon it will be dark. 36 The people do not have anything to eat. So send them away now. Tell them to go to the farms and villages that are near here. Then they can buy some food for themselves to eat.’
37 ‘You should give them some food to eat,’ Jesus replied.
But the disciples said, ‘We cannot go to buy bread for all these people. A man must work for eight months to get the 200 coins that we would need for that.[f] We cannot get enough food to give to these people.’
38 Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.’ When they had looked, they told Jesus, ‘We have five loaves and two fish.’
39 Then Jesus told all the people to sit down on the green grass. He wanted them to sit in large groups. 40 So the people sat down in groups. Each group had 50 or 100 people in it. 41 Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and he thanked God for the food. Then he broke the bread into pieces. He gave the pieces of bread to the disciples, and they gave the bread to the people. Jesus also broke the two fish into pieces for all the people. 42 Everyone ate and they all had enough food. They were not hungry any more. 43 Jesus' disciples then picked up all the bits of food that people had not eaten. They filled 12 baskets with little bits of bread and fish. 44 There were 5,000 men in the crowd that ate the food there.[g]
Jesus walks on water
45 Immediately after this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Get into the boat and sail across the lake to Bethsaida.’ Jesus said that he would first send the crowd away. Then he would also leave. 46 So he said ‘goodbye’ to the crowd. Then he went up on a mountain to pray.
47 That evening, the boat with the disciples in it was in the middle of the lake. Jesus was still alone on the land. 48 But he could see his disciples. They were trying to make the boat move along. But it was very difficult for them because the wind was blowing in the opposite direction. Then, when it was nearly dawn, Jesus walked on the water towards his disciples. He seemed to be going on past them. 49 But they saw that he was walking on the water. They thought, ‘It is a spirit.’ And they screamed out. 50 They all saw him and they were very afraid. But immediately, Jesus said to them, ‘Be brave. It is I. Do not be afraid.’ 51 Then Jesus got into the boat to be with them. The strong wind stopped. The disciples were completely surprised about what had happened. 52 They did not understand what Jesus had done with the loaves of bread. They were not ready to learn.
Jesus makes many sick people well
53 They sailed across the lake. They reached the shore at Gennesaret and they tied the boat there. 54 When they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus immediately. 55 They went to tell everyone who lived in places near there. They brought sick people to Jesus. They carried those people to him on mats. Whenever they knew where Jesus was, they brought sick people to him there. 56 Jesus went to villages, towns and farms. Everywhere that he went, they brought sick people to the market places. The sick people asked Jesus for help. They wanted to touch even the edge of his coat. Every sick person who touched him became well.
Footnotes
- 6:1 Jesus' family lived in a town called Nazareth.
- 6:3 The people thought that they knew everything about Jesus. They believed that he was only an ordinary man.
- 6:14 The name of this Herod was Herod Antipas. He ruled Galilee region from 4 BC to AD 39.
- 6:15 Elijah was a prophet of God. He had spoken powerful messages from God and he had done many great things. God's prophet Malachi said that Elijah would return one day. See Malachi 4:5. But Jesus showed that Malachi was talking about John the Baptist, not about Jesus himself. See Matthew 17:10-13.
- 6:18 Herodias had left Philip, her first husband. Then Herod married her. So John told him what Moses had written in God's law. God's law said, ‘A man must not marry his brother's wife.’ See Leviticus 20:21. Herod was angry with John when he told him that. So Herod told his men that they must put John in prison.
- 6:37 These coins were called denarii. People who worked received about one coin each day.
- 6:44 Women and children also ate the loaves and the fish.
Mark 6
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Rejection at Nazareth
6 He(A) left there and came to his home town,(B) and his disciples(C) followed him. 2 When the Sabbath(D) came, he began to teach(E) in the synagogue,(F) and many who heard him were astonished. ‘Where did this man get these things? ’ they said. ‘What is this wisdom(G) that has been given to him, and how are these miracles(H) performed by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter,(I) the son of Mary,(J) and the brother of James,(K) Joses, Judas,(L) and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us? ’ So they were offended(M) by him.
4 Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet(N) is not without honour(O) except in his home town, among his relatives, and in his household.’ 5 He was not able to do a miracle(P) there, except that he laid his hands on(Q) a few ill(R) people and healed(S) them. 6 And he was amazed(T) at their unbelief.(U) He was going around the villages teaching.(V)
Commissioning the Twelve
7 He(W) summoned(X) the Twelve(Y) and began to send(Z) them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean(AA) spirits.(AB) 8 He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a staff – no bread, no travelling bag,(AC) no money in their belts, 9 but to wear sandals and not put on an extra shirt.(AD) 10 He said to them, ‘Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. 11 If any place does not welcome(AE) you or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet(AF) as a testimony(AG) against them.’[a] 12 So they went out and preached(AH) that people should repent.(AI) 13 They drove out many demons,(AJ) anointed(AK) many ill(AL) people with oil(AM) and healed them.(AN)
John the Baptist Beheaded
14 King(AO) Herod(AP) heard about it, because Jesus’s name(AQ) had become well known. Some[b] said, ‘John the Baptist(AR) has been raised from the dead,(AS) and that’s why miraculous powers(AT) are at work(AU) in him.’ 15 But others said, ‘He’s Elijah.’(AV) Still others said, ‘He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.’(AW)
16 When Herod(AX) heard of it, he said, ‘John,(AY) the one I beheaded, has been raised! ’(AZ)
17 For(BA) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain(BB) him in prison on account of Herodias,(BC) his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.(BD) 18 John had been telling Herod, ‘It is not lawful(BE) for you to have your brother’s wife.’(BF) 19 So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill(BG) him. But she could not, 20 because Herod feared(BH) John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous(BI) and holy(BJ) man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed,[c](BK) and yet he liked to listen to him.(BL)
21 An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet(BM) for his nobles,(BN) military commanders,(BO) and the leading men of Galilee.(BP) 22 When Herodias’s own daughter[d] came in and danced,(BQ) 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(BR) oath:(BS) ‘Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.’(BT)
24 She went out and said to her mother, ‘What should I ask for? ’
‘John the Baptist’s(BU) head,’ she said.
25 At once she hurried to the king and said, ‘I want you to give me John the Baptist’s(BV) head on a dish(BW) immediately.’ 26 Although the king was deeply distressed,(BX) because of his oaths(BY) and the guests[e] he did not want to refuse(BZ) 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 dish, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When John’s disciples(CA) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.(CB)
Feeding of the Five Thousand
30 The(CC) apostles(CD) gathered around Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a remote place and rest for a while.’ For many people were coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.
32 So they went away in the boat by themselves to a remote place, 33 but many saw them leaving and recognised them, and they ran on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them.[f]
34 When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd and had compassion(CE) on them, because they were like sheep(CF) without a shepherd. Then he began to teach them many things.
35 When it grew late, his disciples(CG) approached him and said, ‘This place is deserted,(CH) and it is already late. 36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages to buy themselves something to eat.’
37 ‘You give them something to eat,’ he responded.
They said to him, ‘Should we go and buy two hundred denarii[g] worth of bread and give them something to eat? ’
38 He asked them, ‘How many loaves do you have? Go and see.’
When they found out they said, ‘Five, and two fish.’ 39 Then he instructed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves. He kept giving them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42 Everyone ate and was satisfied.(CI) 43 They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.
Walking on the Water
45 Immediately(CJ) he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, to Bethsaida,(CK) while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After he said goodbye to them, he went away to the mountain(CL) to pray.(CM) 47 Well into the night, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 He saw them straining(CN) at the oars,[h] because the wind was against them. Very early in the morning[i] he came towards them walking on the sea and wanted to pass by them. 49 When they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost(CO) and cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified.(CP) Immediately he spoke with them and said, ‘Have courage!(CQ) It is I.(CR) Don’t be afraid.’(CS) 51 Then he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. They were completely astounded, 52 because they had not understood about the loaves. Instead, their hearts were hardened.(CT)
Miraculous Healings
53 When they had crossed over, they came to shore at Gennesaret(CU) and anchored there.
54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognised him. 55 They hurried throughout that region and began to carry the sick(CV) on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 Wherever he went, into villages, towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch just the end(CW) of his robe.(CX) And everyone who touched it was healed.
Footnotes
- 6:11 Other mss add Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom or Gomorrah on judgement day than for that town.
- 6:14 Other mss read He
- 6:20 Other mss read When he heard him, he did many things
- 6:22 Other mss read When his daughter Herodias
- 6:26 Lit and those reclining at the table
- 6:33 Other mss add and gathered around him
- 6:37 A denarius = one day’s wage
- 6:48 Or them being battered as they rowed
- 6:48 Lit Around the fourth watch of the night = 3 to 6 a.m.
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