Mark 6
Contemporary English Version
The People of Nazareth Turn against Jesus
(Matthew 13.53-58; Luke 4.16-30)
6 Jesus left and returned to his hometown[a] with his disciples. 2 The next Sabbath he taught in the synagogue. Many of the people who heard him were amazed and asked, “How can he do all this? Where did he get such wisdom and the power to work these miracles? 3 Isn't he the carpenter,[b] the son of Mary? Aren't James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon his brothers? Don't his sisters still live here in our town?” The people were upset because of what he was doing.
4 (A) But Jesus said, “Prophets are honored by everyone, except the people of their hometown and their relatives and their own family.” 5 Jesus could not work any miracles there, except to heal a few sick people by placing his hands on them. 6 He was surprised that the people did not have any faith.
Instructions for the Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10.5-15; Luke 9.1-6)
Jesus taught in all the neighboring villages. 7 Then he called together his twelve apostles and sent them out two by two with power over evil spirits. 8 (B) He told them, “You may take along a walking stick. But don't carry food or a traveling bag or any money. 9 It's all right to wear sandals, but don't take along a change of clothes. 10 When you are welcomed into a home, stay there until you leave that town. 11 (C) If any place won't welcome you or listen to your message, leave and shake the dust from your feet[c] as a warning to them.”
12 The apostles left and started telling everyone to turn to God. 13 (D) They forced out many demons and healed a lot of sick people by putting olive oil[d] on them.
The Death of John the Baptist
(Matthew 14.1-12; Luke 9.7-9)
14 (E) Jesus became so well-known that Herod the ruler[e] heard about him. Some people thought he was John the Baptist, who had come back to life with the power to work miracles. 15 Others thought he was Elijah[f] or some other prophet who had lived long ago. 16 But when Herod heard about Jesus, he said, “This must be John! I had his head cut off, and now he has come back to life.”
17-18 (F) Herod had earlier married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. But John had told him, “It isn't right for you to take your brother's wife!” So, in order to please Herodias, Herod arrested John and put him in prison.
19 Herodias had a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she could not do it 20 because Herod was afraid of John and protected him. He knew that John was a good and holy man. Even though Herod was confused by what John said,[g] he was glad to listen to him. And he often did.
21 Finally, Herodias got her chance when Herod gave a great birthday celebration for himself and invited his officials, his army officers, and the leaders of Galilee. 22 The daughter of Herodias[h] came in and danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased them so much that Herod said, “Ask for anything, and it's yours! 23 I swear that I will give you as much as half of my kingdom, if you want it.”
24 The girl left and asked her mother, “What do you think I should ask for?”
Her mother answered, “The head of John the Baptist!”
25 The girl hurried back and told Herod, “Here and now on a serving plate I want the head of John the Baptist!”
26 Herod was very sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. 27 At once he ordered a guard to cut off John's head there in prison. 28 The guard put the head on a serving plate and took it to the girl. Then she gave it to her mother.
29 When John's followers learned that he had been killed, they took his body and put it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
(Matthew 14.13-21; Luke 9.10-17; John 6.1-14)
30 After the apostles returned to Jesus,[i] they told him everything they had done and taught. 31 But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat. Then Jesus said, “Let's go to a place[j] where we can be alone and get some rest.” 32 They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. 33 But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going. So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.
34 (G) When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd. He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.
35 That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it's already late. 36 Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.”
37 Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.”
But they asked him, “Don't you know it would take almost a year's wages[k] to buy all of these people something to eat?”
38 Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!”
They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread[l] and two fish.” 39 Jesus told his disciples to tell the people to sit down on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of 100 and groups of 50.
41 Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so everyone could have some.
42 After everyone had eaten all they wanted, 43 Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44 There were 5,000 men who ate the food.
Jesus Walks on the Water
(Matthew 14.22-33; John 6.15-21)
45 At once, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. 46 Then he told them goodbye and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.
47 Later in the evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake. 48 He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came toward them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat.
49 When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming. 50 All of them saw him and were terrified. But at this same time he said, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.” 51 He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely confused. 52 Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.
Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret
(Matthew 14.34-36)
53 Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret. 54 As soon as they got out of the boat, the people recognized Jesus. 55 So they ran all over that part of the country to bring their sick people to him on mats. They brought them each time they heard where he was. 56 In every village or farm or marketplace where Jesus went, the people brought their sick to him. They begged him to let them just touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.
Footnotes
- 6.1 hometown: Nazareth.
- 6.3 carpenter: The Greek word may also mean someone who builds or works with stone or brick.
- 6.11 shake the dust from your feet: This was a way of showing rejection.
- 6.13 olive oil: The Jewish people used olive oil as a way of healing people. Sometimes olive oil is a symbol for healing by means of a miracle (see James 5.14).
- 6.14 Herod the ruler: Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great.
- 6.15 Elijah: Many of the Jewish people expected the prophet Elijah to come and prepare the way for the Messiah.
- 6.20 was confused by what John said: Some manuscripts have “did many things because of what John said.”
- 6.22 Herodias: Some manuscripts have “Herod.”
- 6.30 the apostles returned to Jesus: From the mission on which he had sent them (see 6.7,12,13).
- 6.31 a place: This was probably northeast of Lake Galilee (see verse 45).
- 6.37 almost a year's wages: The Greek text has “200 silver coins.” Each coin was the average day's wage for a worker.
- 6.38 small loaves of bread: These would have been flat and round or in the shape of a bun.
Mark 6
Christian Standard Bible
Rejection at Nazareth
6 He(A) left there and came to his hometown,(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 honor(O) except in his hometown, 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 sick(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 traveling 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 sick(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 platter(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 platter, 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 recognized 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 good-bye 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 toward 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 recognized 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 judgment 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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