1And He left there and came into His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2Now when the Sabbath day came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many of those who heard Him were astonished, saying, "From where did this Man get these things? And what is this wisdom that has been given to Him, that by His hands many miracles are done also? 3Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?" And they were offended in Him. 4But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, and among his own kinsmen, and in his own house." 5And He was not able to do any works of power there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6And He was amazed by their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching the people.

7And He called the twelve to Him and began to send them out, two by two; and He gave them authority over unclean spirits. 8And He commanded them not to take anything for the journey except a staff-- no bag of provisions, nor bread, nor money in the belt; 9But to be shod with sandals; and not to put on two coats. 10Then He said to them, "Wherever you go, and come into a house, remain there until you leave that city. 11But as many as will not receive you, nor hear you, when you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet as a witness against them. Truly I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city." 12And they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. 13And they cast out many demons; and they anointed with oil many sick people, and healed them.

14Then King Herod heard of Jesus, because His name had become widely known; and he said, "John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and because of this these miracles are being worked by him." 15Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is a prophet, or one like the prophets." 16But after hearing these reports, Herod said, "It is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead."

17For Herod himself had sent and arrested John and had him bound in prison, because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother, whom he had married. 18For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19And Herodias held it against him, and desired to kill him, but was not able; 20Because Herod feared John, realizing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. And after hearing him, he did many things; and he listened to him gladly. 21But an opportune day came when Herod prepared a banquet on his birthday for his principal men, and for the chief captains and the important men of Galilee. 22And the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, and it pleased Herod and those sitting with him at the banquet; and the king said to the young woman, "Ask me whatever you desire, and I will give it to you." 23Then he swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me I will give to you, up to half of my kingdom." 24And after going out, she said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the Baptist." 25Then she immediately returned to the king with haste and said, "I desire that you give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26Now although the king was personally very sorrowful, because of the oaths and those who were sitting with him, he would not reject her request. 27Then without delay, the king sent a guardsman and ordered his head to be brought. 28And he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young woman; and the young woman gave it to her mother. 29Now when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his body, and laid it in the tomb.

30Then the apostles gathered together with Jesus, and they related to Him everything, both what they had done and what they had taught. 31And He said to them, "All of you come away into a desert place, and rest a while." For there were so many people coming and going that they did not have an opportunity even to eat. 32Then they departed alone by ship to a place in the wilderness.

33But the multitudes saw them leaving, and many recognized Him; and they all ran together there from all the cities, and went ahead of them; and they came together to Him. 34And when Jesus arrived, He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion toward them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. Then He began to teach them many things. 35Now because it was already a late hour, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This place is a wilderness, and the time is already late. 36Dismiss them so that they may go into the country round about and buy food for themselves in the villages; for they have nothing to eat." 37But He answered and said to them, "You give them something to eat." And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred silver coins' worth of bread, and give it to them to eat?" 38Then He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." And when they knew, they said, "Five loaves, and two fish." 39And He ordered them to make everyone sit down by companies on the green grass. 40Then they sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41And after taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up into heaven and blessed them; and He broke the loaves and gave them to His disciples, so that they might set them before the people. And the two fish He divided among them all. 42And they all ate and were satisfied. 43Then they took up twelve baskets full of fragments of bread and of fish. 44And those who ate of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45Then He commanded His disciples to get into the ship at once and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He dismissed the multitude. 46And after He had sent them away, He departed to the mountain to pray.

47Now when evening arrived, the ship was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. 48And He saw them laboring in their rowing, because the wind was contrary to them. And about the fourth watch of the night, He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed by them. 49But when they saw Him walking on the sea, they thought it was an apparition; and they cried out, 50Because they all saw Him and were alarmed. And immediately He spoke to them, and said to them, "Be of good courage; it is I. Do not fear." 51Then He went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceased. And they were amazed in themselves far beyond measure, and wondered. 52For they did not understand the miracle of the loaves, because their hearts were hardened.

53And after crossing over the sea, they came to the land of Gennesaret and drew to shore. 54And when they came out of the ship, those who dwelt there immediately recognized Him. 55Then they ran through all the country around, and began to carry those who were sick on stretchers, taking them wherever they heard that He was. 56And wherever He entered into villages or cities or fields, they laid in the marketplaces those who were sick; and they besought Him that they might only touch the border of His garment; and all those who touched Him were healed.