The Beheading of John (Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9)
1 UST While Jesus was teaching and doing powerful things, King Herod Antipas{, the ruler over the region of Galilee,} learned what he was doing. BSB BSB: At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
2 UST He told his attendants,“This man must be John the Baptizer. God has made him alive again, and that is why he does these powerful things.” 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 UST { Herod said that because John had already died.} Here is how that happened: Herod married Herodias, who had previously been the wife of Herod’ s brother Philip. John the Baptizer told Herod,“Our law forbids you to marry Herodias{, your sister- in- law}.” So, Herod told his soldiers to arrest John. They tied him up and put him in jail. 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 UST However, Herod was afraid of the large group of people who believed that John spoke for God. So, even though he wanted to have his soldiers execute John{, he did not do that}. BSB BSB: Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
6 UST Sometime later, during Herod’ s birthday party, Herodias’ daughter danced{ for him and his guests}. Herod greatly enjoyed her dancing. BSB BSB: On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
7 UST So, he solemnly promised that he would give her whatever she wanted. BSB BSB: so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
8 UST Her mother, Herodias, had already told her what to ask for. So, she said to Herod,“I want you to cut off John the Baptizer’ s head and bring it to me here on a plate!” BSB BSB: Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
9 UST King Herod was sad{ about what she asked for}. However, because he had solemnly promised in front of all his guests{ to give her what she asked for}, he told one of his men to do what she asked. BSB BSB: The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
10 UST He had the man go to the jail and cut off John’ s head there. BSB BSB: and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
11 UST Then, the man put John’ s head on a plate and gave it to Herodias’ daughter. She gave 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 UST Later, John’ s apprentices went to the jail. They took John’ s dead body and buried it. Then, they went to Jesus and told him 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 UST After Jesus heard{ that John was dead}, he sailed{ with his apprentices} in a boat on the Sea of Galilee to a place where no one lived. Then, the large groups of people learned{ that he had traveled there}. They left their towns and walked around the Sea of Galilee to join him. 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 UST When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large group of people. He pitied them, and he cured those who were sick. BSB BSB: When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15 UST When it was evening, the apprentices approached Jesus. They said to him,“This is a place where no one lives, and it is very late in the day. So, please tell the large groups of people to walk to the small towns that are nearby, where they can buy food to eat.” 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 UST Jesus replied,“They do not need to leave{ to buy food}. I want you to provide them with food to eat!” BSB BSB: “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
17 UST The apprentices replied,“We have very little food! We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.” BSB BSB: “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18 UST Then Jesus said,“Bring those things to me.” BSB BSB: “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
19 UST Jesus told the large groups of people to sit down on the ground. He picked up the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Then he thanked God for the food. After that, he tore the bread into pieces and gave the pieces to his apprentices. They distributed them to the large groups of people. 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 UST Everyone ate{ the bread}, and they all had enough to eat. Then the apprentices gathered the food that was left. They filled 12 large containers with the leftovers! BSB BSB: They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21 UST About 5, 000 men ate{ the bread}, and there were women and children there too! 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 UST As soon as{ everyone was done eating}, Jesus had his apprentices get into a boat and sail across{ the Sea of Galilee} without him. He stayed behind to tell the large groups of people to go 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 UST After he told the large groups of people to go home, he climbed to the top of a hill to pray{ to God} by himself. When it became dark, he was on top of the hill by himself. 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 UST Meanwhile, the apprentices were on the boat in the middle of the Sea of Galilee. The wind was blowing from where they wanted to go, so many waves were striking the boat. BSB BSB: but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25 UST Later, soon before morning, Jesus joined them. He was walking on top of the Sea of Galilee! BSB BSB: During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
26 UST When the apprentices saw Jesus walking on top of the Sea of Galilee, it disturbed them.{ They did not know that it was Jesus, so} they said{ to each other} that he must be a dangerous spiritual being. They were so afraid that they shouted loudly. 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 UST As soon as{ they shouted loudly}, Jesus said to them,“Do not worry! I am{ Jesus}. Stop being afraid!” BSB BSB: But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
30 UST However, Peter realized how powerful the storm was, and he was afraid. Then he started to sink into the water. He shouted{ to Jesus},“My Lord, please 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 UST As soon as{ Peter shouted}, Jesus reached out and lifted Peter up out of the water. Then he said to Peter,“You should not have been unsure{ that I could make you walk on top of the water}. You should trust God more than you do!” BSB BSB: Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
32 UST Then Jesus and Peter climbed into the boat. At that moment, the wind 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 UST After they finished sailing across the Sea of Galilee, they landed on the shore in the region of Gennesaret. BSB BSB: When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
35 UST The men in that region recognized Jesus. So they sent people to the nearby areas{ to say that Jesus had arrived}. Then people{ from those areas} brought to Jesus many others who were 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 UST Those who were sick asked Jesus to allow them just to touch the hem of his robe. Everyone who did so became healthy. BSB BSB: and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.