Passage: Mark 6:14-51 (RSV)


Mark 6


14King Herod heard of it; for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him."
15But others said, "It is Eli'jah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."
16But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised."
17For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.
18For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."
19And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,
20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly.
21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee.
22For when Hero'di-as' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it."
23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom."
24And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer."
25And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."
26And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her.
27And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and 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.
29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
30The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught.
31And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
32And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.
33Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them.
34As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.
35And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late;
36send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat."
37But he answered 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 it to them to eat?"
38And he said to them, "How many loaves have you? Go and see." And when they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fish."
39Then he commanded them all to sit down by companies upon the green grass.
40So they sat down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties.
41And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and he divided the two fish among them all.
42And they all ate and were satisfied.
43And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish.
44And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.
45Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Beth-sa'ida, while he dismissed the crowd.
46And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray.
47And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land.
48And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them,
49but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out;
50for they all saw him, and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, "Take heart, it is I; have no fear."
51And he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded,



Back to Antioch's Bible Study Tools
Back to Antioch's Home Page