Mark 6
Jesus Is Rejected (6:1–6)
1 And he went out from there and came to his hometown. And his disciples follow him. 2 And the Sabbath having come, he began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this one get these things? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What miracles are done by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the builder? Mary’s son, and the brother of Jacob, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they did not respect him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” 5 And he wasn’t able to perform any miracle there, except on a few sick people: having laid on hands, he healed them. 6 And he was amazed at their lack of belief.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve (6:7–13)
And he went around among the villages teaching. 7 And he calls the Twelve to him and began to send them out two by two and gave them power/authority over unclean spirits. 8 He instructed them that they should take nothing for the way except for a staff only—no bread, no satchel, no money in their belts— 9 “but wear sandals and don’t wear two tunics.” 10 And he said to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that area. 11 And if any place will not accept you or hear you, depart from there and shake the dirt off of your feet as a testimony to/against them.” 12 And having gone out, they proclaimed that people should change their minds. 13 And they drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
John the Baptist Is Killed (6:14–31)
14 And King Herod heard of him, for indeed his name became known. And some said, “John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead—because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But Herod having heard, said, “John—whom I beheaded—has been raised!” 17 For Herod himself had John arrested and bound in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her. 18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not 20 because Herod revered John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and so protected him. And having heard him, he, Herod, was greatly perplexed but heard him gladly. 21 And an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday hosted a banquet for the court officials, the military officers, and the prominent people of Galilee. 22 And his daughter Herodias, having come in and danced, delighted Herod and those dining with him. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give it to you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And having gone out, she asked her mother, “What should I ask?” She said, “the head of John the Baptizer.” 25 And having entered immediately—with haste—to the king, she asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once upon a plate the head of John the Baptizer.” 26 And the king was very sorrowful, but because of his oath and because of those dining with him, he would not refuse her. 27 And immediately having sent for an executioner, he commanded that John’s head be brought. And having gone, he cut off his head in the cell 28 and brought the head upon a plate and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 And having heard about it, his disciples came and took his body and placed it in a grave.
30 And the apostles are gathered to Jesus. And they told him everything—what they had done and what they had taught. 31 And he says to them, “Come by yourselves into a deserted place and rest a little.” For there were so many people coming and going that they did not even have enough time to eat.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men (6:32–44)
32 And they went in the boat into a deserted place by themselves. 33 And many saw them going and recognized them, and they ran together there by land from all the towns and arrived before them. 34 And having gone out [of the boat], he saw a large crowd and was filled with compassion toward them because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things. 35 And already the hour was late, having come to him, his disciples were saying to him, “This is a deserted place, and already the hour is late. 36 Send them away, so that having gone into the surrounding countryside and towns, they might buy themselves something to eat.” 37 But answering, he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they say to him, “Having gone out, should we buy two hundred days’ wages worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 And he says to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have? Go and see.” And having found out, they say, “Five, and two fish.” 39 And he commanded them to make everyone in groups on the green grass. 40 And they sat down in rows, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 And having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having looked up into/to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to his disciples so that they might present them to the people. And the two fish he divided among them all. 42 And they all ate and were filled. 43 And they picked up twelve basketfuls of scraps [of bread] and of the fish. 44 And those having eaten of the loaves were five thousand males.
Jesus Walks on Water (6:45–52)
45 And immediately he required his disciples to enter into the boat and to go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismisses the crowd. 46 And having left them, he went to the mountain to pray. 47 And evening having come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 And having seen them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them, as the night was ending, he comes to them walking on the sea and intending to pass by them. 49 And having seen him walking on the sea, they thought that it is a ghost and screamed. 50 For all saw him and were terrified. And immediately he spoke with them and says to them, “Have courage. I am [here]. Do not fear.” 51 And he went up into the boat to them, and the wind stopped. And they were extremely, utterly amazed. 52 For they did not understand about the loaves, but their heart was hardened.
Jesus’ Ministry Summarized (6:53–56)
53 And having crossed over to the land, they came to Gennesaret and anchored there. 54 And having come out of the boat, Jesus was immediately recognized. 55 They were running through all of that region, and they began to carry on mats those who were sick to wherever they were hearing that he is. 56 And wherever he entered—into villages or into towns or into the countryside—they laid down those who were sick in the marketplaces, and they were begging him that they might touch just the fringe of his clothing. And as many as touched him were cured/saved.
