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.
Mark 6
New Life Version
Jesus Visits His Own Town, Nazareth (A)
6 Jesus went from the house of Jairus and came to His home town. His followers came after Him. 2 On the Day of Rest He began to teach in the Jewish place of worship. Many people heard Him. They were surprised and wondered, saying, “Where did this Man get all this? What wisdom is this that has been given to Him? How can He do these powerful works with His hands? 3 Is He not a Man Who makes things from wood? Is He not the Son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Do not His sisters live here with us?” The people were ashamed of Him and turned away from Him. 4 Jesus said to them, “One who speaks for God is respected everywhere but in his own country and among his own family and in his own house.”
5 So Jesus could do no powerful works there. But He did put His hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 He wondered because they had no faith. But He went around to the towns and taught as He went.
Jesus Calls Twelve Followers and Sends Them Out (B)
7 Jesus called the twelve followers to Him and began to send them out two by two. He gave them power over demons. 8 He told them to take nothing along with them but a walking stick. They were not to take a bag or food or money in their belts. 9 They were to wear shoes. They were not to take two coats.
10 He said to them, “Whatever house you go into, stay there until you leave that town. 11 Whoever does not take you in or listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet. By doing that, you will speak against them. For sure, I tell you, it will be easier for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day men stand before God and are judged than for that city.”
12 Then they left. They preached that men should be sorry for their sins and turn from them. 13 They put out many demons. They poured oil on many people that were sick and healed them.
John the Baptist Is Put in Prison (C)
14 King Herod heard about Jesus because everyone was talking about Him. Some people said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why he is doing such powerful works.” 15 Other people said, “He is Elijah.” Others said, “He is one who speaks for God like one of the early preachers.” 16 When Herod heard this, he said, “It is John the Baptist, whose head I cut off. He has been raised from the dead.” 17 For Herod had sent men to take John and put him into prison. He did this because of his wife, Herodias. She had been the wife of his brother Philip. 18 John the Baptist had said to Herod, “It is wrong for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 Herodias became angry with him. She wanted to have John the Baptist killed but she could not. 20 Herod was afraid of John. He knew he was a good man and right with God, and he kept John from being hurt or killed. He liked to listen to John preach. But when he did, he became troubled.
John the Baptist Is Killed (D)
21 Then Herodias found a way to have John killed. Herod gave a big supper on his birthday. He asked the leaders of the country and army captains and the leaders of Galilee to come. 22 The daughter of Herodias came in and danced before them. This made Herod and his friends happy. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 23 Then he made a promise to her, “Whatever you ask for, I will give it to you. I will give you even half of my nation.” 24 She went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother answered, “I want the head of John the Baptist.” 25 At once the girl went to Herod. She said, “I want you to give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate now.”
26 Herod was very sorry. He had to do it because of his promise and because of those who ate with him. 27 At once he sent one of his soldiers and told him to bring the head of John the Baptist. The soldier went to the prison and cut off John’s head. 28 He took John’s head in on a plate and gave it to the girl. The girl gave it to her mother. 29 John’s followers heard this. They went and took his body and buried it.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand (E)
30 The followers of Jesus came back to Him. They told Jesus all they had done and taught. 31 He said to them, “Come away from the people. Be by yourselves and rest.” There were many people coming and going. They had had no time even to eat. 32 They went by themselves in a boat to a desert. 33 Many people saw them leave and knew who they were. People ran fast from all the cities and got there first. 34 When Jesus got out of the boat, He saw many people gathered together. He had loving-pity for them. They were like sheep without a shepherd. He began to teach them many things.
35 The day was almost gone. The followers of Jesus came to Him. They said, “This is a desert. It is getting late. 36 Tell the people to go to the towns and villages and buy food for themselves.” 37 He said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said to Him, “Are we to go and buy many loaves of bread and give it to them?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves of bread do you have here? Go and see.” When they knew, they said, “Five loaves of bread and two fish.” 39 Then He told them to have all the people sit down together in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in groups of fifty people and in groups of one hundred people. 41 Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to the followers to set before the people. He divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were filled. 43 After that the followers picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish. 44 About five thousand men ate the bread.
Jesus Walks On The Water (F)
45 At once Jesus had His followers get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to the town of Bethsaida. He sent the people away. 46 When they were all gone, He went up to the mountain to pray. 47 It was evening. The boat was half-way across the sea. Jesus was alone on the land. 48 He saw His followers were in trouble. The wind was against them. They were working very hard rowing the boat. About three o’clock in the morning Jesus came to them walking on the sea. He would have gone past them. 49 When the followers saw Him walking on the water, they thought it was a spirit and cried out with fear. 50 For they all saw Him and were afraid. At once Jesus talked to them. He said, “Take hope. It is I, do not be afraid.” 51 He came over to them and got into the boat. The wind stopped. They were very much surprised and wondered about it. 52 They had not learned what they should have learned from the loaves because their hearts were hard.
People Are Healed at Gennesaret (G)
53 Then they crossed the sea and came to the land of Gennesaret and went to shore. 54 When Jesus got out of the boat, the people knew Him at once. 55 They ran through all the country bringing people who were sick on their beds to Jesus. 56 Wherever He went, they would lay the sick people in the streets in the center of town where people gather. They begged Him that they might touch the bottom of His coat. Everyone who did was healed. This happened in the towns and in the cities and in the country where He went.
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