Thematic Bible




Mark 6:1 (show verse)

Now Jesus left that place and came to his hometown, and his disciples followed him.

Mark 6:2 (show verse)

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?

Mark 6:3 (show verse)

Isn't this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And aren't his sisters here with us?" And so they took offense at him.

Mark 6:4 (show verse)

Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house."

Mark 6:5 (show verse)

He was not able to do a miracle there, except to lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them.

Mark 6:6 (show verse)

And he was amazed because of their unbelief. Then he went around among the villages and taught.

Mark 6:7 (show verse)

Jesus called the twelve and began to send them out two by two. He gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Mark 6:8 (show verse)

He instructed them to take nothing for the journey except a staff -- no bread, no bag, no money in their belts --

Mark 6:9 (show verse)

and to put on sandals but not to wear two tunics.

Mark 6:10 (show verse)

He said to them, "Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave the area.

Mark 6:11 (show verse)

If a place will not welcome you or listen to you, as you go out from there, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

Mark 6:12 (show verse)

So they went out and preached that all should repent.

Mark 6:13 (show verse)

They cast out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.

Mark 6:14 (show verse)

Now King Herod heard this, for Jesus' name had become known. Some were saying, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead, and because of this, miraculous powers are at work in him."

Mark 6:15 (show verse)

Others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets from the past."

Mark 6:16 (show verse)

But when Herod heard this, he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised!"

Mark 6:17 (show verse)

For Herod himself had sent men, arrested John, and bound him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because Herod had married her.

Mark 6:18 (show verse)

For John had repeatedly told Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."

Mark 6:19 (show verse)

So Herodias nursed a grudge against him and wanted to kill him. But she could not

Mark 6:20 (show verse)

because Herod stood in awe of John and protected him, since he knew that John was a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard him, he was thoroughly baffled, and yet he liked to listen to John.

Mark 6:21 (show verse)

But a suitable day came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee.

Mark 6:22 (show verse)

When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you."

Mark 6:23 (show verse)

He swore to her, "Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

Mark 6:24 (show verse)

So she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" Her mother said, "The head of John the baptizer."

Mark 6:25 (show verse)

Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: "I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately."

Mark 6:26 (show verse)

Although it grieved the king deeply, he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests.

Mark 6:27 (show verse)

So the king sent an executioner at once to bring John's head, and he went and beheaded John in prison.

Mark 6:28 (show verse)

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

Mark 6:29 (show verse)

When John's disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.

Mark 6:30 (show verse)

Then the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught.

Mark 6:31 (show verse)

He said to them, "Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while" (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat).

Mark 6:32 (show verse)

So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place.

Mark 6:33 (show verse)

But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot from all the towns and arrived there ahead of them.

Mark 6:34 (show verse)

As Jesus came ashore he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he taught them many things.

Mark 6:35 (show verse)

When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is an isolated place and it is already very late.

Mark 6:36 (show verse)

Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat."

Mark 6:37 (show verse)

But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." And they said, "Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins and give it to them to eat?"

Mark 6:38 (show verse)

He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see." When they found out, they said, "Five -- and two fish."

Mark 6:39 (show verse)

Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass.

Mark 6:40 (show verse)

So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties.

Mark 6:41 (show verse)

He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to his disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all.

Mark 6:42 (show verse)

They all ate and were satisfied,

Mark 6:43 (show verse)

and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full.

Mark 6:44 (show verse)

Now there were five thousand men who ate the bread.

Mark 6:45 (show verse)

Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd.

Mark 6:46 (show verse)

After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray.

Mark 6:47 (show verse)

When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land.

Mark 6:48 (show verse)

He saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, he came to them walking on the sea, for he wanted to pass by them.

Mark 6:49 (show verse)

When they saw him walking on the water they thought he was a ghost. They cried out,

Mark 6:50 (show verse)

for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: "Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid."

Mark 6:51 (show verse)

Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished,

Mark 6:52 (show verse)

because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

Mark 6:53 (show verse)

After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and anchored there.

Mark 6:54 (show verse)

As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus.

Mark 6:55 (show verse)

They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be.

Mark 6:56 (show verse)

And wherever he would go -- into villages, towns, or countryside -- they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.