Chapter 17
The Death of John the Baptist
Verse 1: Now king Herod heard of all this, for Jesus’s name had become widely known. Some people were saying, “John the baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him.” | Mark 6:14
2 But others were saying, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the great prophets of old.” | Mark 6:15
3 But when Herod heard of this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.” | Mark 6:16
4 For Herod himself had sent men who then arrested John, and bound him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod was married to her. | Mark 6:17
5 For John had been warning Herod, “It is against the law for you to marry your brother’s wife.” | Mark 6:18
6 So Herodias held a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was unable to, | Mark 6:19
7 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a holy and righteous man, and he protected him. For when he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he listened to him with joy. | Mark 6:20
8 On Herod's birthday a suitable opportunity came, he gave a banquet for his nobles and military officers and for the leaders of Galilee. | Mark 6:21
9 When their daughter came in and danced so elegantly, she pleased Herod and his guests that he said to her, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will gladly give it.” | Mark 6:22
10 And he even swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, even if it is half of my kingdom.” | Mark 6:23
11 She at once went to her mother and asked, “What should I ask for?” The mother replied, “The head of John the baptizer.” | Mark 6:24
12 The girl Immediately hurried back to the king and made her request, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” | Mark 6:25
13 Although it deeply grieved the king, bound by his oath and those guests at the dinner table, he did not want to refuse her. | Mark 6:26
14 He immediately dispatched a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. Soon after John was beheaded by an executioner in the prison, | Mark 6:27
15 who then brought his head on a platter to the court, and presented it to the girl and the girl gave it to her mother. | Mark 6:28
16 When his disciples heard of what happened although greatly aggrieved, they came for John and took his body and laid it in a tomb. | Mark 6:29
Feeding the Five Thousand
17 When the apostles came back to Jesus, they gathered around him and told him all that they had done and taught. | Mark 6:30
18 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” As many people were coming and going, and they had no time for meals. | Mark 6:31
19 And they sailed off in the boat to an isolated place by themselves. | Mark 6:32
20 And many saw them leaving and as they knew them, they hurried there on foot from all the neighbouring towns and arrived before them. | Mark 6:33
21 And getting out of the boat onto ashore, Jesus saw a large crowd, and he had compassion for them also, then he began to teach them many things. | Mark 6:34
22 By this time it was late; his disciples came to him and said, “This is a isolated place, and it is already very late; | Mark 6:35
23 send these people away so that they shall go into the country and villages nearby and buy something for themselves to eat.” | Mark 6:36
24 But Jesus answered them, “You shall give them something to eat.” His disciples said to him, “Shall we spend two hundred denarii worth of bread, so they can eat?” | Mark 6:37
25 And Jesus asked them, “How many loaves have you? Go look.” And when they found out, they returned and said, “Five, and two fish.” | Mark 6:38
26 Jesus then directed his disciples to get all the people to assemble and sit down on the green grass in groups. | Mark 6:39
27 So they sat down together in groups of hundreds and of fifties. | Mark 6:40
28 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish. Looking up to heaven, he gave his thanks and started to break up the loaves and divide the fish. In doing so, he began to give them both to his disciples to be distributed to the people. | Mark 6:41
29 And all ate until they were fully satisfied, | Mark 6:42
30 And they went round and collected all the broken pieces and the fish into twelve baskets. | Mark 6:43
31 And there were five thousand men who ate the loaves and fishes, besides all the women and children in the crowd. | Mark 6:44, Matthew 14:21
Jesus Walks on the Water
32 Immediately he made the disciples get aboard a boat and went ahead to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. | Matthew 14:22
33 And after we walked along the shore, he ascended up the mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone, | Matthew 14:23
34 but by now the boat with the disciples was being beaten by the waves, was far from the land, for the wind was raging against it. | Matthew 14:24
35 Very early in the morning, he came walking slowly toward them over the waves. | Matthew 14:25
36 And when the disciples saw someone approaching them on the waves, they were terrified, with one saying, “It is a ghost!” and they all cried out in fear. | Matthew 14:26
37 But at once Jesus spoke to them and said, “Have courage! Do not be afraid; it is I.” | Matthew 14:27
38 “Lord”, Peter exclaimed, “if it is you, tell me to come and meet to you on the water!” | Matthew 14:28
39 “Come.”, said Jesus. Then Peter carefully descended out of the boat, started walking slowly on the water, and went towards Jesus. | Matthew 14:29
40 But when he felt that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” | Matthew 14:30
41 And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, saying, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” | Matthew 14:31
42 When they boarded into the boat, the wind died down. | Matthew 14:32
43 The disciples were utterly amazed, | Mark 6:51
44 for they did not understand the lesson about the loaves, because their minds were dull and their hearts were hardened. | Mark 6:52