Mark 6:1-20 ▼

1 And Jesus went out from there and came into His hometown; and His disciples followed Him.

2 And when the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue; and many listeners were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things, and what is this wisdom given to this man, and such miracles as these performed by His hands?

3 Is this man not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? Are not His sisters here with us?” And they were taking offense at Him.

4 And Jesus was saying to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and among his own relatives and in his own household.”

5 And He could do no miracle there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them.

6 And He was marveling at their unbelief. And He was going around the villages teaching.

7 And He summoned the twelve and began to send them out in pairs, and was giving them authority over the unclean spirits;

8 and He instructed them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only—no bread, no bag, no money in their belt—

9 but to wear sandals; and He added, “Do not put on two tunics.”

10 And He was saying to them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave town.

11 And any place that does not receive you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off the soles of your feet for a testimony against them.”

12 And they went out and preached that men should repent.

13 And they were casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them.

14 And King Herod heard it, for His name had become well known; and people were saying, “John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in Him.”

15 But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others were saying, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

16 But when Herod heard it, he kept saying, “John, whom I beheaded, has risen!”

17 For Herod himself had sent and had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, because he had married her.

18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

19 Now Herodias was holding a grudge against him and was wanting to put him to death and was not able;

20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he was keeping him safe. And when he heard him, he was very perplexed; but he used to enjoy listening to him.