New Testament in a Year

Jesus Goes to His Hometown

6 Jesus left there and went back to his hometown. His followers went with him. ² On the Sabbath day he taught in the synagogue. Many people heard him and were amazed. They said, “Where did this man get these teachings? What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And where did he get the power to work miracles? ³ He is only the carpenter. His mother is Mary. He is the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us.” The people did not accept Jesus.

⁴ Jesus said to them, “Other people give honor to a prophet. But in his own town with his own people and in his own home, a prophet does not receive honor.” ⁵ Jesus was not able to work many miracles there. The only miracles he did were to heal some sick people by putting his hands on them. ⁶ Jesus was amazed that they had no faith.

Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught. ⁷ He called the 12 followers together and sent them out in groups of 2. He gave them authority over evil spirits. ⁸ This is what Jesus told them: “Take nothing for your trip except a walking stick. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets. ⁹ Wear sandals, and take only the clothes you are wearing. ¹⁰ When you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ If any town refuses to accept you or its people refuse to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake its dust off your feet.^[a] This will be a warning to them.”^[b]

¹² The followers went out and preached to the people to change their hearts and lives. ¹³ The followers forced many demons out and poured olive oil on many sick people and healed them.

How John the Baptist Was Killed

¹⁴ King Herod heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now well known. Some people said,^[c] “He is John the Baptist. He is risen from death. That is the reason he can work these miracles.”

¹⁵ Others said, “He is Elijah.”^[d]

Other people said, “Jesus is a prophet. He is like the prophets who lived long ago.”

¹⁶ Herod heard all these things about Jesus. He said, “I killed John by cutting off his head. Now he has been raised from death!”

¹⁷ Herod himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John, and John was put in prison. Herod did this to please his wife, Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod’s brother. But then Herod married her. ¹⁸ John told Herod that it was not lawful for him to be married to his brother’s wife. ¹⁹ So Herodias hated John and wanted to kill him. But she could not because of Herod. ²⁰ Herod was afraid to kill John because he knew John was a good and holy man. So Herod protected John. Also, Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But John’s preaching always bothered him.

²¹ Then the perfect time came for Herodias to cause John’s death. It happened on Herod’s birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee. ²² The daughter of Herodias^[e] came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased.

So King Herod said to the girl, “I will give you anything you want.” ²³ He promised her, “Anything you ask for I will give to you. I will even give you half of my kingdom.”

²⁴ The girl went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask the king to give me?”

Her mother answered, “Ask for the head of John the Baptist.”

²⁵ Quickly the girl went back to the king. She said to him, “Please give me the head of John the Baptist. Bring it to me now on a platter.”

²⁶ The king was very sad. But he had promised to give the girl anything she wanted. And the people eating there with him had heard his promise. So Herod could not refuse what she asked. ²⁷ Immediately the king sent a soldier to bring John’s head. The soldier went and cut off John’s head in the prison ²⁸ and brought it back on a platter. He gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ John’s followers heard about what happened. So they came and got John’s body and put it in a tomb.