1 Jesus deixou essa região e voltou com seus discípulos para Nazaré, cidade onde tinha morado. 2 No sábado seguinte, começou a ensinar na sinagoga, e muitos dos que o ouviam se admiraram e perguntavam: "De onde vem tanta sabedoria e poder para realizar esses milagres? 3 Não é esse o carpinteiro, filho de Maria e irmão de Tiago, José, Judas e Simão? Suas irmãs moram aqui, entre nós". E sentiam-se muito ofendidos.

4 Então Jesus lhes disse: "Um profeta recebe honra em toda parte, menos em sua cidade e entre seus parentes e sua própria família". 5 Por isso, não pôde realizar milagres ali, exceto pôr as mãos sobre alguns enfermos e curá-los. 6 E ficou admirado com a incredulidade daquele povo.

Então Jesus percorreu diversos povoados, ensinando a seus moradores. 7 Reuniu os Doze e começou a enviá-los de dois em dois, dando-lhes autoridade para expulsar espíritos impuros. 8 Instruiu-os a não levar coisa alguma na viagem, exceto um cajado. Não poderiam levar alimento, nem bolsa de viagem, nem dinheiro. 9 Poderiam calçar sandálias, mas não levar uma muda de roupa extra.

10 Disse ele: "Onde quer que forem, fiquem na mesma casa até partirem da cidade. 11 Mas, se algum povoado se recusar a recebê-los ou a ouvi-los, ao saírem, sacudam a poeira dos pés como sinal de reprovação".

12 Então eles partiram, dizendo a todos que encontravam que se arrependessem. 13 Expulsaram muitos demônios e curaram muitos enfermos, ungindo-os com óleo.

14 Logo o rei Herodes ouviu falar de Jesus, pois todos comentavam a seu respeito. Alguns diziam: "João Batista ressuscitou dos mortos. Por isso tem poder para fazer esses milagres". 15 Outros diziam: "É Elias". Ainda outros diziam: "É um profeta, como os profetas de antigamente".

16 Quando Herodes ouviu falar de Jesus, disse: "João, o homem a quem decapitei, voltou dos mortos!".

17 O rei havia mandado prender e encarcerar João para agradar Herodias. Ela era esposa de seu irmão, Filipe, mas Herodes tinha se casado com ela. 18 João dizia a Herodes: "É contra a lei que o senhor viva com a esposa de seu irmão". 19 Por isso Herodias guardava rancor de João e queria matá-lo, mas não podia fazê-lo, 20 pois Herodes o respeitava e o protegia, sabendo que ele era um homem justo e santo. Herodes ficava muito perturbado sempre que falava com João, mas mesmo assim gostava de ouvi-lo.

21 Finalmente, no aniversário de Herodes, Herodias teve a oportunidade que procurava. Ele deu uma festa para os membros do alto escalão do governo, para seus oficiais militares e para os cidadãos mais importantes da Galileia. 22 Sua filha, também chamada Herodias, entrou e apresentou uma dança que agradou muito Herodes e seus convidados. "Peça-me qualquer coisa que deseje, e eu lhe darei", disse o rei à moça. 23 E prometeu, sob juramento: "Eu lhe darei o que pedir, até metade do meu reino!".

24 Ela saiu e perguntou à mãe: "O que devo pedir?".

A mãe lhe disse: "Peça a cabeça de João Batista!".

25 A moça voltou depressa ao rei e disse: "Quero a cabeça de João Batista agora mesmo num prato!".

26 O rei muito se entristeceu com isso, mas, por causa do juramento que havia feito na frente dos convidados, não pôde negar o pedido. 27 Assim, enviou no mesmo instante um carrasco com ordens de cortar a cabeça de João e trazê-la. Ele decapitou João na prisão, 28 trouxe a cabeça num prato e a entregou à moça, que a levou à sua mãe. 29 Quando os discípulos de João souberam o que havia acontecido, foram buscar o corpo e o colocaram numa sepultura.

30 Os apóstolos voltaram de sua missão e contaram a Jesus tudo que tinham feito e ensinado. 31 Jesus lhes disse: "Vamos sozinhos até um lugar tranquilo para descansar um pouco", pois tanta gente ia e vinha que eles não tinham tempo nem para comer.

32 Então saíram de barco para um lugar isolado, a fim de ficarem a sós. 33 Contudo, muitos os reconheceram e os viram partir, e pessoas de várias cidades correram e chegaram antes deles. 34 Quando Jesus saiu do barco, viu a grande multidão e teve compaixão dela, pois eram como ovelhas sem pastor. Então começou a lhes ensinar muitas coisas.

35 Ao entardecer, os discípulos foram até ele e disseram: "Este lugar é isolado, e já está tarde. 36 Mande as multidões embora, para que possam ir aos campos e povoados vizinhos e comprar algo para comer".

37 Jesus, porém, disse: "Providenciem vocês mesmos alimento para eles".

"Precisaríamos de muito dinheiro para comprar comida para todo esse povo!", responderam.

38 "Quantos pães vocês têm?", perguntou ele. "Vão verificar."

Eles voltaram e informaram: "Cinco pães e dois peixes".

39 Então Jesus ordenou que fizessem a multidão sentar-se em grupos na grama verde. 40 Assim, eles se sentaram em grupos de cinquenta e de cem.

41 Jesus tomou os cinco pães e os dois peixes, olhou para o céu e os abençoou. Então, à medida que ia partindo os pães, entregava-os aos discípulos para que os distribuíssem ao povo. Também dividiu os peixes para que todos recebessem uma porção. 42 Todos comeram à vontade, 43 e os discípulos recolheram doze cestos com os pães e peixes que sobraram. 44 Os que comeram foram cinco mil homens.

45 Logo em seguida, Jesus insistiu com seus discípulos que voltassem ao barco e atravessassem o mar até Betsaida, enquanto ele mandava o povo para casa. 46 Depois de se despedir de todos, subiu sozinho ao monte para orar.

47 Durante a noite, os discípulos estavam no barco, no meio do mar, e Jesus, sozinho em terra. 48 Ele viu que estavam em apuros, remando com força e lutando contra o vento e as ondas. Por volta das três da madrugada, Jesus foi até eles caminhando sobre o mar. Sua intenção era passar por eles, 49 mas, quando o avistaram caminhando sobre as águas, gritaram de pavor, pensando que fosse um fantasma. 50 Ficaram todos aterrorizados ao vê-lo.

Imediatamente, porém, Jesus lhes disse: "Não tenham medo! Coragem, sou eu!". 51 Em seguida, subiu no barco e o vento parou. Os discípulos ficaram admirados, 52 pois ainda não tinham entendido o milagre dos pães. O coração deles estava endurecido.

53 Depois de atravessarem o mar, chegaram a Genesaré. Levaram o barco até a margem 54 e desceram. As pessoas reconheceram Jesus assim que o viram. 55 Quando ouviam que Jesus estava em algum lugar, corriam por toda a região, levando os enfermos em macas para onde sabiam que ele estava. 56 Aonde quer que ele fosse — aos povoados, às cidades ou aos campos ao redor —, levavam os enfermos para as praças. Suplicavam que ele os deixasse pelo menos tocar na borda de seu manto, e todos que o tocavam eram curados.

1 Then He went out from there and came to His hometown, and His disciples followed Him.2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many when they heard were astonished, saying, "Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, and such miracles are coming about by His hands?3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?"And they were offended at Him.4 But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown, and among his relatives, and in his own house."5 and He could do no miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few sick [people] and healed [them].6 And He marveled because of their unbelief. Then He went about the villages in a circuit, teaching.7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for the journey except a staff, only-no knapsack, no bread, nor a copper [coin] for their money belts-9 but [to go] having put on sandals, and not to put on two tunics.10 And He said to them, "Wherever you may enter into a house, stay there until you go out from there.11 And as many as do not receive you nor hear you, as you leave from there, shake off the dust underneath your feet as a testimony against them. Assuredly, I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom or for Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"12 And when they went out, they were preaching that [people] should repent.13 And they were casting out many demons, and they were anointing with oil many who were sick, and were healing [them].14 And King Herod heard, for His name became well known. And he said, "John the Baptizer has been raised from the dead, and for this reason the miracles are at work in him."15 Others said, "He is Elijah."But others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets."16 But when he heard, Herod said, "It is John, whom I beheaded; he has been raised from the dead!"17 For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.18 For John would say to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."19 Therefore Herodias held a grudge against him and was desiring to kill him, but she was not able;20 for Herod was afraid of John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he was protecting him. And when he heard him, he did many things, but he would hear him gladly.21 And when an opportune day arrived, when Herod for his birthday festivities was putting on a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee,22 and when Herodias' daughter herself came in and danced, and pleased Herod and his dinner guests, the king said to the girl, "Ask me whatever you may want, and I will give it to you."23 He also swore to her, "Whatever you may ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."24 And when she had gone out, she said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"And she said, "The head of John the Baptist!"25 Immediately she came in with haste to the king and she requested, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter."26 And the king became exceedingly sorry; yet, because of his oaths and of those who reclined with him, he did not want to refuse her.27 And immediately the king, having sent an executioner, commanded his head to be brought. And having departed, he beheaded him in the prison,28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother.29 And when his disciples heard, they came and took away his body and placed it in a tomb.30 Then the apostles gathered to Jesus and they reported to Him all things, both everything they had done and everything they had taught.31 And He said to them, "Come, you yourselves privately, to a deserted place and rest a little."For there were many coming and going, and they were not even finding opportunity to eat.32 And they went away to a deserted place in the boat privately.33 But the multitudes saw them going, and many recognized Him, and ran together there on foot from all the cities, and preceded them, and they came together to Him.34 And when He came out, Jesus saw a large crowd, and He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.35 And when it grew late, His disciples came to Him and said, "The place is deserted, and already the hour is late.36 Dismiss them, so that they may go into the surrounding farms and villages and may buy themselves food; for they have nothing to eat."37 But answering, He said to them, "You give them [something] to eat."And they said to Him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii [worth of] bread and give them [something ]to eat?"38 But He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go and see."And when they found out they said, "Five, and two fish."39 Then He gave orders for them all to recline in groups on the green grass.40 And they reclined in parties of hundreds and of fifties.41 And taking the five loaves and the two fish, looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves, and was giving [them] to His disciples, so that they might set them before them; and the two fish He divided to all.42 So they all ate and were filled.43 And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and from the fish.44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were five thousand men.45 And immediately He compelled His disciples to step into the boat and to go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, until He could dismiss the crowd.46 And having taken leave of them, He departed to the mountain to pray.47 Now when it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.48 Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them walking on the sea, and He intended to pass by them.49 And seeing Him walking on the sea, they supposed Him to be a spirit, and they cried out;50 for they all saw Him and were troubled. But immediately He spoke with them, and said to them, "Have courage! [It is] I AM; do not be afraid."51 Then He went up with them into the boat and the wind ceased. And they were greatly astounded among themselves beyond measure, and were marveling.52 For they had not understood concerning the loaves, because their heart was hardened.53 And having crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret and anchored there.54 And when they came out of the boat, immediately having recognized Him,55 running about that whole surrounding region, they began to carry about on beds those who were ill to wherever they would hear that He was.56 And wherever He would enter into villages, or towns, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and they would beg Him at least that they might touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched Him were healed.