6 Jesus went from there to Nazareth, his hometown, with his disciples. 2 On the Sabbath he started teaching in the synagogue, and the many listeners were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas from?” they asked. “What is this wisdom he has been given, and this power to do miracles? 3 Is he not the carpenter, Mary’s son, the brother of James, Joseph, Judas and Simon? Are not his sisters living here with us?” They took offense at him. 4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is treated with honor, but not in his hometown, among his own relatives, and within his own family.” 5 Consequently Jesus could not do any miracles there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 He was amazed by their unbelief. He traveled around the villages, teaching as he went.
    7 He called together the twelve disciples and sent them out two by two. He gave them authority over evil spirits, [268] 8 and instructed them to take nothing with them except a walking staff — no bread, no bag, no money.  9 They were to wear sandals, but not take extra clothes. 10 He said to them, “When you are invited into a home, stay there until you leave that town.  11 Any place that does not welcome you or listen to you, shake the dust off your feet as you leave as a testimony against them.”  12 So they traveled around preaching that people should repent.[269]  13 They drove out many demons, and anointed with oil many sick people and healed them.
     14 King Herod heard about Jesus, as his reputation had become well-known. Some were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 Others said, “It is Elijah.” Still others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”  16 But Herod kept saying, “John, the one I beheaded, has been raised!”
    17 For Herod himself had had John arrested and imprisoned because of Herodias. She was his brother Philip’s wife, whom Herod had married.  18 John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to marry your brother’s wife.” 19 Consequently Herodias resented John and wanted to have him killed. But she could not arrange it 20 because Herod respected John as an upright and holy man. Herod protected John, and though he was very confused at what John said, he still liked to listen to him.  21 Herodias’ opportunity came on Herod’s birthday. He gave a banquet for the nobles, military officers, and leaders of Galilee. 22 Herodias’ daughter came in and danced, pleasing Herod and his dinner guests. He said to the girl, 23 “You can ask me for whatever you want, and I will give it to you!” He promised with an oath, “I will give you up to half of my kingdom.” 24 So she went out and asked her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 Immediately the girl rushed back in and said to the king, “I want you to give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 The king was very sorry, but because of the oaths he had made in front of his guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27 So immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. After beheading him in the prison, 28 the executioner brought John’s head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother.  29 When John’s disciples heard about this they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
    30 The Apostles gathered together with Jesus and reported to him all that they had done and taught. 31 Jesus said to them, “Come with me to a quiet place and rest for a while,” because there were so many people coming and going that they did not even have time to eat.  32 So they went away by boat to a quiet place to be by themselves.
    33 Many saw them leave and recognized them. So people from all the surrounding towns ran ahead and got there before them. 34 When Jesus landed he saw a large crowd, and he felt compassion for them because they were like sheep without a shepherd, so he began to teach them many things.  35 When it was already quite late, Jesus’ disciples came to him. “This place is far from anywhere,” they said, “and it is already quite late. 36 You had better tell the people to leave and buy themselves something to eat in the surrounding countryside and villages.” 37 But Jesus responded, “You give them something to eat.” The disciples said, “We would need over six months’ pay to go and buy bread for them.” 38 Jesus asked, “So how much bread do you have? Go and see.” They went to find out, and said to him, “Five loaves, and a couple of fish.” 39 Jesus directed everyone to sit down on the green grass in groups.  40 They sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Then he took the five loaves and two fish. He looked up to heaven and blessed the food and broke the bread. Then he gave the bread to the disciples to distribute to the people, and he divided the two fish up among them all. 42 Everyone ate until they were satisfied. 43 Then they collected up what was left of the bread and fish and filled twelve baskets full. 44 There were five thousand men who ate.
    45 Immediately Jesus told his disciples to get back into the boat and to go on ahead to Bethsaida on the other side of the lake, while he sent the crowd away. 46 After saying goodbye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 47 Later that evening, the boat was out in the middle of the lake while Jesus was alone on land. 48 He could see them struggling to row, because the wind was against them. About three a.m. Jesus came towards them, walking on the sea. He would have passed them by, 49 but when they saw him walking on the sea, they thought it was a ghost and shouted out. 50 They all saw him and were terrified. Immediately Jesus said to them, “Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!” 51 He got into the boat with them and the wind died down. They were completely astonished, 52 because they had not understood the meaning of the miracle of the loaves, because their minds were closed.
    53 Having crossed the lake they arrived at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 As they got out of the boat, immediately people recognized Jesus, 55 and they ran throughout the whole area to carry the sick on their mats to where they heard Jesus was. 56 Wherever he went, in the villages, in the towns, or in the countryside, they were laying the sick in the marketplaces and pleading with him that they might just touch the edge of his coat. Everyone who touched it was healed.