Mark 6:15-53

¹⁵Others said, “He is Elijah.” But others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets.”

¹⁶But when he heard, Herod said, “It is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!”

¹⁷For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.

¹⁸For John would say to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.”

¹⁹Therefore Herodias held a grudge against him and was desiring to kill him, but she was not able;

²⁰for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he was protecting him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and he would hear him gladly.

²¹And when an opportune day arrived, when Herod for his birthday festivities was putting on a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee,

²²and when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and his dinner guests, the king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you may want, and I will give it to you.”

²³He also swore to her, “Whatever you may ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.”

²⁴And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist!”

²⁵Immediately she came in with haste to the king and she requested, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

²⁶And the king became exceedingly sorry; yet, because of his oaths and of those who reclined with him, he did not want to refuse her.

²⁷And immediately the king, having sent an executioner, commanded his head to be brought. And having departed, he beheaded him in the prison,

²⁸and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.

²⁹And when his disciples heard, they came and took away his body and placed it in a tomb.

³⁰Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and they reported to Him all things, both everything they had done and everything they had taught.

³¹And He said to them, “Come, you yourselves privately, to a deserted place and rest a little.” For there were many coming and going, and they were not even finding opportunity to eat.

³²And they went away to a deserted place in the boat privately.

³³But the multitudes saw them going, and many recognized Him, and ran together there on foot from all the cities, and preceded them, and they came together to Him.

³⁴And when He came out, Jesus saw a large crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

³⁵And when it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, “The place is deserted, and already the hour is late.

³⁶Dismiss them, so that they may go into the surrounding farms and villages and may buy themselves food; for they have nothing to eat.”

³⁷But answering, He said to them, “You give them something to eat.” And they said to Him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”

³⁸But He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” And when they found out they said, “Five, and two fish.”

³⁹Then He gave orders for them all to recline in groups on the green grass.

⁴⁰And they reclined in parties of hundreds and of fifties.

⁴¹And taking the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and was giving them to His disciples, so that they might set them before them; and the two fish He divided to all.

⁴²So they all ate and were filled.

⁴³And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and from the fish.

⁴⁴Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.

⁴⁵And immediately He compelled His disciples to step into the boat and to go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, until He could dismiss the crowd.

⁴⁶And having taken leave of them, He departed to the mountain to pray.

⁴⁷Now when it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.

⁴⁸Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them walking on the sea, and He intended to pass by them.

⁴⁹And seeing Him walking on the sea, they supposed Him to be a spirit, and they cried out;

⁵⁰for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He spoke with them, and said to them, “Have courage! It is I AM; do not be afraid.”

⁵¹Then He went up with them into the boat and the wind ceased. And they were greatly astounded among themselves beyond measure, and were marveling.

⁵²For they had not understood concerning the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

⁵³And having crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.