Study Desk

He^(a) went away from there and came to His hometown,^(b) and His disciples^(c) followed Him.

When the Sabbath^(d) came, He began to teach^(e) in the synagogue,^(f) and many who heard Him were astonished. "Where did this man get these things?" they said. "What is this wisdom^(g) given to Him, and how are these miracles^(h) performed by His hands?

Isn't this the carpenter,⁽ⁱ⁾ the son of Mary,^(j) and the brother of James,^(k) Joses, Judas,^(l) and Simon? And aren't His sisters here with us?" So they were offended^(m) by Him.

Then Jesus said to them, "A prophet⁽ⁿ⁾ is not without honor^(o) except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household."

So He was not able to do any miracles^[a](p) there, except that He laid His hands on^(q) a few sick^(r) people and healed^(s) them.

And He was amazed^(t) at their unbelief.^(u) Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.^(v)

He^(w) summoned^(x) the Twelve^(y) and began to send^(z) them out in pairs and gave them authority over unclean^(aa) spirits.^(ab)

He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a walking stick: no bread, no traveling bag,^(ac) no money in their belts.

They were to wear sandals, but not put on an extra shirt.^(ad)

Then He said to them, "Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place.

If any place does not welcome^(ae) you and people refuse to listen to you, when you leave there, shake the dust off your feet^(af) as a testimony^(ag) against them." ^[b]

So they went out and preached^(ah) that people should repent.^(ai)

And they were driving out many demons,^(aj) anointing^(ak) many sick^(al) people with olive oil,^(am) and healing them.^(an)

King^(ao) Herod^(ap) heard of this, because Jesus' name^(aq) had become well known. Some^[c] said, "John the Baptist^(ar) has been raised from the dead,^(as) and that's why supernatural powers^(at) are at work^(au) in him."

But others said, "He's Elijah."^(av) Still others said, "He's a prophet^[d]—like one of the prophets."^(aw)

When Herod^(ax) heard of it, he said, "John,^(ay) the one I beheaded, has been raised!"^(az)

For^(ba) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain^(bb) him in prison on account of Herodias,^(bc) his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.^(bd)

John had been telling Herod, "It is not lawful^(be) for you to have your brother's wife!"^(bf)

So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill^(bg) him. But she could not,

because Herod was in awe^(bh) of^[e] John and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous^(bi) and holy^(bj) man. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed,^[f](bk) yet would hear him gladly.^(bl)

Now an opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet^(bm) for his nobles,^(bn) military commanders,^(bo) and the leading men of Galilee.^(bp)

When Herodias's own daughter^[g] came in and danced,^(bq) she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you want, and I'll give it to you."

So he swore^(br) oaths^(bs) to her: "Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom."^(bt)

Then she went out and said to her mother, "What should I ask for?" "John the Baptist's^(bu) head!" she said.

Immediately she hurried to the king and said, "I want you to give me John the Baptist's^(bv) head on a platter^(bw)—right now!"

Though the king was deeply distressed,^(bx) because of his oaths^(by) and the guests^[h] he did not want to refuse^(bz) her.

The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in prison,

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

When his disciples^[i](ca) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(cb)