Add parallel Print Page Options

Jesus Sends His Twelve Followers Out (A)

Jesus called His twelve followers to Him. He gave them the right and the power over all demons and to heal diseases. He sent them to preach about the holy nation of God and to heal the sick. Then He said to them, “Take nothing along for the trip. Do not take a walking stick or a bag or bread or money. Do not take two coats. Whatever house you go into, stay there until you are ready to go on. If anyone will not take you in, as you leave that city, shake its dust off your feet. That will speak against them.”

They went out, going from town to town. They preached the Good News and healed the sick everywhere.

John the Baptist Is Killed (B)

Now Herod the leader heard of all that had been done by Jesus. He was troubled because some people said that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. Some people said that Elijah had come back. Others thought one of the early preachers had been raised from the dead. Then Herod said, “I had John’s head cut off. But who is this Man that I hear these things about?” He wanted to see Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand (C)

10 The twelve followers came back. They told Jesus what they had done. Jesus took them to a desert near the town of Bethsaida. There they could be alone. 11 When the people knew where Jesus was, they followed Him. Jesus was happy to see them and talked to them about the holy nation of God. He healed all who were sick.

12 When the day was about over, the twelve followers came to Jesus. They said, “Send these many people away so they can go to the towns and country near here. There they can find a place to sleep and get food. We are here in a desert.” 13 But Jesus said to them, “Give them something to eat.” They said, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish. Are we to go and buy food for all these people?” 14 There were about five thousand men. Jesus said to His followers, “Have them sit down in groups of fifty people.” 15 They did as He told them. They made all of the people sit down. 16 As Jesus took the five loaves of bread and two fish, He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke them in pieces and gave them to His followers to give to the people. 17 They all ate and were filled. They picked up twelve baskets full of pieces of bread and fish after the people finished eating.

Read full chapter