1 Jesus saiu dali e foi para a sua cidade, acompanhado dos seus discípulos.2 Quando chegou o sábado, começou a ensinar na sinagoga, e muitos dos que o ouviam ficavam admirados. "De onde lhe vêm estas coisas? ", perguntavam eles. "Que sabedoria é esta que lhe foi dada? E estes milagres que ele faz?3 Não é este o carpinteiro, filho de Maria e irmão de Tiago, José, Judas e Simão? Não estão aqui conosco as suas irmãs? " E ficavam escandalizados por causa dele.4 Jesus lhes disse: "Só em sua própria terra, entre seus parentes e em sua própria casa, é que um profeta não tem honra".5 E não pôde fazer ali nenhum milagre, exceto impor as mãos sobre alguns doentes e curá-los.6 E ficou admirado com a incredulidade deles. Então Jesus passou a percorrer os povoados, ensinando.7 Chamando os Doze para junto de si, enviou-os de dois em dois e deu-lhes autoridade sobre os espíritos imundos.8 Estas foram as suas instruções: "Não levem nada pelo caminho, a não ser um bordão. Não levem pão, nem saco de viagem, nem dinheiro em seus cintos;9 calcem sandálias, mas não levem túnica extra;10 sempre que entrarem numa casa, fiquem ali até partirem;11 e, se algum povoado não os receber nem os ouvir, sacudam a poeira dos seus pés quando saírem de lá, como testemunho contra eles".12 Eles saíram e pregaram ao povo que se arrependesse.13 Expulsavam muitos demônios, ungiam muitos doentes com óleo e os curavam.14 O rei Herodes ouviu falar dessas coisas, pois o nome de Jesus havia se tornado bem conhecido. Algumas pessoas estavam dizendo: "João Batista ressuscitou dos mortos! Por isso estão operando nele poderes miraculosos".15 Outros diziam: "Ele é Elias". E ainda outros afirmavam: "Ele é um profeta, como um dos antigos profetas".16 Mas quando Herodes ouviu essas coisas, disse: "João, o homem a quem decapitei, ressuscitou dos mortos! "17 Pois o próprio Herodes tinha dado ordens para que prendessem João, o amarrassem e o colocassem na prisão, por causa de Herodias, mulher de Filipe, seu irmão, com a qual se casara.18 Porquanto João dizia a Herodes: "Não te é permitido viver com a mulher do teu irmão".19 Assim, Herodias o odiava e queria matá-lo. Mas não podia fazê-lo,20 porque Herodes temia a João e o protegia, sabendo que ele era um homem justo e santo; e quando o ouvia, ficava perplexo. Mesmo assim gostava de ouvi-lo.21 Finalmente chegou uma ocasião oportuna. No seu aniversário, Herodes ofereceu um banquete aos seus líderes mais importantes, aos comandantes militares e às principais personalidades da Galiléia.22 Quando a filha de Herodias entrou e dançou, agradou a Herodes e aos convidados. O rei disse à jovem: "Peça-me qualquer coisa que você quiser, e eu lhe darei".23 E prometeu-lhe sob juramento: "Seja o que for que me pedir, eu lhe darei, até a metade do meu reino".24 Ela saiu e disse à sua mãe: "Que pedirei? " "A cabeça de João Batista", respondeu ela.25 Imediatamente a jovem apressou-se em apresentar-se ao rei com o pedido: "Desejo que me dês agora mesmo a cabeça de João Batista num prato".26 O rei ficou muito aflito, mas por causa do seu juramento e dos convidados, não quis negar o pedido à jovem.27 Assim enviou imediatamente um carrasco com ordens para trazer a cabeça de João. O homem foi, decapitou João na prisão28 e trouxe sua cabeça num prato. Ele a entregou à jovem, e esta a deu à sua mãe.29 Tendo ouvido isso, os discípulos de João vieram, levaram o seu corpo e o colocaram num túmulo.30 Os apóstolos reuniram-se a Jesus e lhe relataram tudo o que tinham feito e ensinado.31 Havia muita gente indo e vindo, a ponto de eles não terem tempo para comer. Jesus lhes disse: "Venham comigo para um lugar deserto e descansem um pouco".32 Assim, eles se afastaram num barco para um lugar deserto.33 Mas muitos dos que os viram retirar-se, tendo-os reconhecido, correram a pé de todas as cidades e chegaram lá antes deles.34 Quando Jesus saiu do barco e viu uma grande multidão, teve compaixão deles, porque eram como ovelhas sem pastor. Então começou a ensinar-lhes muitas coisas.35 Já era tarde e, por isso, os seus discípulos aproximaram-se dele e disseram: "Este é um lugar deserto, e já é tarde.36 Manda embora o povo para que possa ir aos campos e povoados vizinhos comprar algo para comer".37 Ele, porém, respondeu: "Dêem-lhes vocês algo para comer". Eles lhe disseram: "Isto exigiria duzentos denários! Devemos gastar tanto dinheiro em pão e dar-lhes de comer? "38 Perguntou ele: "Quantos pães vocês têm? Verifiquem". Quando ficaram sabendo, disseram: "Cinco pães e dois peixes".39 Então Jesus ordenou que fizessem todo o povo assentar-se em grupos na grama verde.40 Assim, eles se assentaram em grupos de cem e de cinqüenta.41 Tomando os cinco pães e os dois peixes e, olhando para o céu, deu graças e partiu os pães. Em seguida, entregou-os aos seus discípulos para que os servissem ao povo. E também dividiu os dois peixes entre todos eles.42 Todos comeram e ficaram satisfeitos,43 e os discípulos recolheram doze cestos cheios de pedaços de pão e de peixe.44 Os que comeram foram cinco mil homens.45 Logo em seguida, Jesus insistiu com os discípulos para que entrassem no barco e fossem adiante dele para Betsaida, enquanto ele despedia a multidão.46 Tendo-a despedido, subiu a um monte para orar.47 Ao anoitecer, o barco estava no meio do mar, e Jesus se achava sozinho em terra.48 Ele viu os discípulos remando com dificuldade, porque o vento soprava contra eles. Alta madrugada, Jesus dirigiu-se a eles, andando sobre o mar; e estava já a ponto de passar por eles.49 Quando o viram andando sobre o mar, pensaram que fosse um fantasma. Então gritaram,50 pois todos o tinham visto e ficam aterrorizados. Mas Jesus imediatamente lhes disse: "Coragem! Sou eu! Não tenham medo! "51 Então subiu no barco para junto deles, e o vento se acalmou; e eles ficaram atônitos,52 pois não tinham entendido o milagre dos pães. Seus corações estavam endurecidos.53 Depois de atravessarem o mar, chegaram a Genesaré e ali amarraram o barco.54 Logo que desembarcaram, o povo reconheceu Jesus.55 Eles percorriam toda aquela região e levavam os doentes em macas, para onde ouviam que ele estava.56 E aonde quer que ele fosse, povoados, cidades ou campos, levavam os doentes para as praças. Suplicavam-lhe que pudessem pelo menos tocar na borda do seu manto; e todos os que nele tocavam eram curados.

1 Leaving that place He came into His own country, accompanied by His disciples.2 On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. »Where did he acquire all this?« they asked. »What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?3 Is not this the carpenter, Mary's son, the brother of James and Joses, Jude and Simon? And do not his sisters live here among us?« So they turned angrily away.4 But Jesus said to them, »There is no Prophet without honour except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own home.«5 And He could not do any miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few who were out of health and cured them; and6 He wondered at their unbelief. So He went round the adjacent villages, teaching.7 Then summoning the Twelve to Him, He proceeded to send them out by twos, and gave them authority over the foul spirits.8 He charged them to take nothing for the journey except a stick; no bread, no bag, and not a penny in their pockets,9 but to go wearing sandals. »And do not,« He said, »put on an extra under garment.10 Wherever you enter a house, make it your home till you leave that place.11 But wherever they will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave shake off the very dust from under your feet to bear witness concerning them.«12 So they set out, and preached in order that men might repent.13 Many demons they expelled, and many invalids they anointed with oil and cured.14 King Herod heard of all this (for the name of Jesus had become widely known), and he kept saying, »John the Baptizer has come back to life, and that is why these miraculous Powers are working in him.«15 Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, »He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets.«16 But when Herod heard of Him, he said, »The John, whom I beheaded, has come back to life.«17 For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.18 For John had repeatedly told Herod, »You have no right to be living with your brother's wife.«19 Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;20 for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.21 At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,22 at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, »Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you.«23 He even swore to her, »Whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom.«24 She at once went out and said to her mother:»What shall I ask for?«»The head of John the Baptizer,« she replied.25 The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. »My desire is,« she said, »that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.«26 Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her.27 He at once sent a soldier of his guard with orders to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in the prison,28 and brought his head on a dish and gave it to the young girl, who gave it to her mother.29 When John's disciples heard of it, they came and took away his body and laid it in a tomb.30 When the Apostles had re-assembled round Jesus, they reported to Him all they had done and all they had taught.31 Then He said to them, »Come away, all of you, to a quiet place, and rest awhile.« For there were many coming and going, so that they had no time even for meals.32 Accordingly they sailed away in the boat to a solitary place apart.33 But the people saw them going, and many knew them; and coming by land they ran together there from all the neighbouring towns, and arrived before them.34 So when Jesus landed, He saw a vast multitude; and His heart was moved with pity for them, because they were like sheep which have no shepherd, and He proceeded to teach them many things.35 By this time it was late; so His disciples came to Him, and said, »This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late:36 send them away that they may go to the farms and villages near here and buy themselves something to eat.«37 »Give them food yourselves,« He replied. »Are we,« they asked, `to go and buy two hundred shillings' worth of bread and give them food?«38 »How many loaves have you?« He inquired; »go and see.« So they found out, and said, »Five; and a couple of fish.«39 So He directed them to make all sit down in companies on the green grass.40 And they sat down in rows of hundreds and of fifties.41 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and lifting His eyes to Heaven He blessed the food. Then He broke the loaves into portions which He went on handing to the disciples to distribute; giving pieces also of the two fish to them all.42 All ate and were fully satisfied.43 And they carried away broken portions enough to fill twelve baskets, besides pieces of the fish.44 Those who ate the bread were 5,000 adult men.45 Immediately afterwards He made His disciples go on board the boat and cross over to Bethsaida, leaving Him behind to dismiss the crowd.46 He then bade the people farewell, and went away up the hill to pray.47 When evening was come, the boat was half way across the Lake, while he Himself was on shore alone.48 But when He saw them distressed with rowing (for the wind was against them), towards morning He came towards them walking on the Lake, as if intending to pass them.49 They saw Him walking on the water, and thinking that it was a spirit they cried out;50 for they all saw Him and were terrified. He, however, immediately spoke to them. »There is no danger,« He said; »it is I; be not alarmed.«51 Then He went up to them on board the boat, and the wind lulled; and they were beside themselves with silent amazement.52 For they had not learned the lesson taught by the loaves, but their minds were dull.53 Having crossed over they drew to land in Gennesaret and came to anchor.54 But no sooner had they gone ashore than the people immediately recognized Him.55 Then they scoured the whole district, and began to bring Him the sick on their mats wherever they heard He was.56 And enter wherever He might –village or town or hamlet– they laid their sick in the open places, and entreated Him to let them touch were it but the tassel of His robe; and all, whoever touched Him, were restored to health.