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 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get these things?" and, "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?" So they were offended at him.

4 Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house." 5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and healed them. 6 He marveled because of their unbelief.

He went around the villages teaching. 7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse, 9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics. 10 He said to them, "Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!"

12 They went out and preached that people should repent. 13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick and healed them. 14 King Herod heard this, for his name had become known, and he said, "John the Baptizer has risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him." 15 But others said, "He is Elijah." Others said, "He is a prophet, or like one of the prophets." 16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, "This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead." 17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her. 18 For John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." 19 Herodias set herself against him and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly.

21 Then a convenient day came when Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee. 22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, "Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you." 23 He swore to her, "Whatever you ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

24 She went out and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?"

She said, "The head of John the Baptizer."

25 She came in immediately with haste to the king and requested, "I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter."

26 The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her. 27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard and commanded to bring John’s head; and he went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.

29 When his disciples heard this, they came and took up his corpse and laid it in a tomb.

30 The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught. 31 He said to them, "Come away into a deserted place, and rest awhile." For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. 32 They went away in the boat to a deserted place by themselves. 33 They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him. 34 Jesus came out, saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. 35 When it was late in the day, his disciples came to him and said, "This place is deserted, and it is late in the day. 36 Send them away, that they may go into the surrounding country and villages and buy themselves bread, for they have nothing to eat."

37 But he answered them, "You give them something to eat."

They asked him, "Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?"

38 He said to them, "How many loaves do you have? Go see."

When they knew, they said, "Five, and two fish."

39 He commanded them that everyone should sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 They sat down in ranks, by hundreds and by fifties. 41 He took the five loaves and the two fish; and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves, and he gave to his disciples to set before them, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were filled. 43 They took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and also of the fish. 44 Those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

45 Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he himself sent the multitude away. 46 After he had taken leave of them, he went up the mountain to pray.

47 When evening had come, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and he was alone on the land. 48 Seeing them distressed in rowing, for the wind was contrary to them, about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea; and he would have passed by them, 49 but they, when they saw him walking on the sea, supposed that it was a ghost, and cried out; 50 for they all saw him and were troubled. But he immediately spoke with them and said to them, "Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid." 51 He got into the boat with them; and the wind ceased, and they were very amazed among themselves, and marveled; 52 for they hadn’t understood about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.

53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored to the shore. 54 When they had come out of the boat, immediately the people recognized him, 55 and ran around that whole region, and began to bring those who were sick on their mats to where they heard he was. 56 Wherever he entered—into villages, or into cities, or into the country—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.