¶ And he went out from thence, and came¹ into his own country; and his disciples follow him.

And when the sabbath day was come, he began² to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From³ whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands?

Is not this⁴ the carpenter⁵, the son of Mary, the brother of James⁶, and Joses, and of Juda⁷, and Simon⁸? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended⁹ at him.

¹⁰But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.

¹¹And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.

And he marvelled¹² because of their unbelief. And he went¹³ round about the villages, teaching.

¶ And he called unto him the twelve¹⁴, and began to send them forth by two and¹⁵ two; and gave them power¹⁶ over unclean spirits;

And commanded them that they should take¹⁷ nothing for their journey, save¹⁸ a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money¹⁹ in their purse:

But be shod²⁰ with sandals²¹; and not put on two coats.

¶²²And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

And whosoever²³ shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall²⁴ be more tolerable for Sodom and²⁵ Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

And they went out, and preached²⁶ that men should repent.

And they cast²⁷ out many devils, and anointed²⁸ with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

¶ And king Herod²⁹ heard of him; (for his name³⁰ was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

Others said, That it is Elias³¹. And others said, That it is a prophet³³, or as one of the prophets.

But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is³⁴ John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's³⁶ wife: for he had married her.

For John had said unto Herod, It is³⁷ not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife.

Therefore Herodias³⁸ had a quarrel³⁹ against him, and would have killed him; but she could not:

¶ For Herod feared⁴⁰ John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him⁴¹; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

And when⁴² a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday⁴³ made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee;

⁴⁴And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee.

And he⁴⁵ sware unto her, Whatsoever⁴⁶ thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.

And she went forth, and said⁴⁷ unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head⁴⁸ of John the Baptist.

And she came in straightway with haste⁴⁹ unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me by and by in a charger⁵⁰ the head of John the Baptist.

⁵¹And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.

And immediately the king⁵² sent an executioner⁵³, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison,

And brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel gave it to her mother.

And when his disciples heard of it, they came⁵⁴ and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb.

¶ And the apostles⁵⁵ gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both⁵⁶ what they had done, and what they had taught.

And he said unto them, Come⁵⁷ ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

⁵⁸And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.

⁵⁹And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him.

And Jesus, when he came out, saw⁶⁰ much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because⁶¹ they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he⁶² began to teach them many things.

⁶³And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed:

⁶⁴Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat.

He answered and said unto them, Give⁶⁵ ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall⁶⁶ we go and buy two hundred pennyworth⁶⁷ of bread, and give them to eat?

⁶⁸He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.

⁶⁹And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.

¶ And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds⁷⁰, and by fifties.

And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked⁷¹ up to heaven, and blessed⁷², and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all.

⁷³And they did all eat, and were filled.

⁷⁴And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes.

And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men.

¶ And straightway⁷⁵ he constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida⁷⁶, while he sent away the people.

⁷⁷And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.

⁷⁸And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land.

And he saw⁷⁹ them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth⁸⁰ watch of the night he cometh⁸¹ unto them, walking upon the sea, and would⁸² have passed by them.

But when they saw⁸³ him walking upon the sea, they supposed⁸⁴ it had been a spirit, and cried out:

¶ For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I⁸⁵; be not afraid.

And he went up unto them into the ship; and the⁸⁶ wind ceased: and they⁸⁷ were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered.

For they⁸⁸ considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their⁸⁹ heart was hardened.

And when they had passed over, they came into the land⁹⁰ of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.

And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew⁹¹ him,

⁹²And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.

And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid⁹³ the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch⁹⁴ if it were but the border⁹⁵ of his garment: and as many as touched him⁹⁶ were made whole.