The Beheading of John (Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)
1 UDB During that time, the ruler Herod Antipas heard reports about Jesus performing miracles. BSB BSB: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
2 UDB He said to his servants, "That must be John the Baptizer. He must have risen from the dead, and that is why he has power to do these miracles." BSB BSB: and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 UDB This is what happened to make Herod think this. Herod had married Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, while Philip was still living. So John kept saying to him, "What you have done is against God's law!" Then, to please Herodias, Herod told his soldiers to arrest John. They bound him with chains and put him in prison. BSB BSB: Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
5 UDB Herod wanted to order his men to execute John, but he was afraid of the general public because they believed that John was a prophet speaking for God. BSB BSB: Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
6 UDB One day, Herod gave a party to celebrate his birthday, and Herodias's daughter danced for his guests. Her dancing pleased Herod very much, BSB BSB: On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
7 UDB so he promised to give her whatever she asked, and he asked God to be a witness that he had made this promise. BSB BSB: so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
8 UDB So Herodias's daughter went and asked her mother what to ask for. Her mother told her what to say. So her daughter went back and said to Herod, "I want you to cut off the head of John the Baptizer and bring it here on a platter to show that he is really dead!" BSB BSB: Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
9 UDB The king was now very sorry that he had promised to give Herodias's daughter whatever she wanted. But because he had called on God to hear him make that promise, and because all his guests had heard him do so, he felt that he had to do what he had said. So he ordered his servants to do what she wanted. BSB BSB: The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
10 UDB He sent soldiers to go to the prison and cut off John's head. BSB BSB: and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
11 UDB They did that, and they put John's head on a platter and brought it to the girl. Then the girl took it to her mother. BSB BSB: John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
12 UDB Later John's disciples went to the prison, took John's body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened. BSB BSB: Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30–44; Luke 9:10–17; John 6:1–15)
13 UDB After Jesus heard that news, he took just the disciples with him and went by boat on the Sea of Galilee to a place where no one lived. After the crowds heard about where they had gone, they left their towns and followed them, walking along the shore. BSB BSB: When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
14 UDB When Jesus came to the shore, he saw a very large crowd waiting for him. He felt sorry for them, and he healed the sick people who were among them. BSB BSB: When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 UDB When it was nearly evening, the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This is a place where nobody lives, and it is very late. Tell the crowds to go away so they can buy food in the towns nearby." BSB BSB: When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16 UDB But Jesus said to his disciples, "They do not need to leave to get food. Instead, you yourselves give them something to eat!" BSB BSB: “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
17 UDB The disciples said, "But we have only five loaves of bread and two cooked fish here!" BSB BSB: “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 UDB He said, "Bring them to me!" BSB BSB: “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
19 UDB Jesus told the crowd of people who had gathered there to sit on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven, thanked God for them, and broke them into pieces. Then he gave the pieces to his disciples, and they distributed them to the crowd. BSB BSB: And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
20 UDB All the people ate until they were no longer hungry. Then some people gathered the pieces that were left over and filled twelve baskets with them. BSB BSB: They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21 UDB About five thousand men ate at that time, not counting the women and children! BSB BSB: About five thousand men were fed, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on Water (Mark 6:45–52; John 6:16–21)
22 UDB Right after that happened, Jesus told the disciples to get in the boat and to go ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. In the meantime, he was going to send the crowd home. BSB BSB: Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
23 UDB After he sent the crowd away, he went up into the hills to pray by himself. When it was evening, he was still there alone. BSB BSB: After He had dismissed them, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,
24 UDB By this time the disciples were a long distance from the shore. The wind was blowing very hard opposite to how the disciples were trying to sail; the wind made very large waves that were tossing the boat back and forth in the water. BSB BSB: but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 UDB Then Jesus came down from the hills to the water. Sometime between three and six o'clock in the morning he walked on the water toward the boat. BSB BSB: During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
26 UDB When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they thought that he must be a ghost. They were terrified, and they screamed in fear. BSB BSB: When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 UDB Immediately Jesus said to them, "Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!" BSB BSB: But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
30 UDB But when Peter paid attention to the strong wind, he became afraid. He began to sink in the water and cried out, "Lord, rescue me!" BSB BSB: But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 UDB Right away Jesus reached out with his hand and grabbed Peter. He said to him, "You only trust a little bit in my power! Why did you doubt that I could keep you from sinking?" BSB BSB: Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
32 UDB Then Jesus and Peter got in the boat, and the wind immediately stopped blowing. BSB BSB: And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.
Jesus Heals at Gennesaret (Mark 6:53–56)
34 UDB When they had gone further around the lake in the boat, they reached the shore at the town of Gennesaret. BSB BSB: When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
35 UDB The men of that area recognized Jesus, so they sent people to inform those who lived in the whole region that Jesus had come. So the people brought to Jesus everyone who was sick. BSB BSB: And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him
36 UDB The sick people kept begging him to allow them to touch him or even only the edge of his robe so that they would be healed. Everyone who touched him or his robe was healed. BSB BSB: and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.