New Testament in a Year

6 ¶ And he went out from there and came into his own country, and his disciples followed him.

² And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue; and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From where has this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him and such mighty works that are wrought by his hands?

³ 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.

⁴ But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not dishonoured except in his own country and among his own kin and in his own house.

⁵ And he could do no mighty work there except that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk and healed them.

⁶ And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went through the villages round about, teaching.

⁷ ¶ And he called unto him the twelve and began to send them forth by two and two and gave them power over the unclean spirits

⁸ and commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey except a staff only: no provision bag, no bread, no money in their purse;

⁹ but be shod with sandals and not put on two coats.

¹⁰ And he said unto them, In whatever place ye enter into a house, there abide until ye depart from that place.

¹¹ And whosoever shall not receive you nor hear you, when ye depart from there, shake off the dust under your feet in 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 demons and anointed with oil many that were sick, and they were healed.

¹⁴ ¶ And king Herod heard of him (for his name was spread abroad), and he said, John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and therefore virtues operate in him.

¹⁵ Others said, It is Elijah. And others said, It is the prophet or one of the prophets.

¹⁶ But when Herod heard of it, he said, This 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 and holy man, and respected 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 princes and tribunes and to the principal people of Galilee;

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

²³ And he swore unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it unto 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 with haste unto the king and asked, saying, I will that thou give me immediately in a platter the head of John the Baptist.

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

²⁷ And straightway 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 platter 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.