Rejection at Nazareth

6 He^(A) went away from there and came to His hometown,^(B) and His disciples^(C) followed Him. ² 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? ³ 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.

⁴ Then Jesus said to them, “A prophet^(N) is not without honor^(O) except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his household.” ⁵ 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. ⁶ And He was amazed^(T) at their unbelief.^(U)

Commissioning the Twelve

Now He was going around the villages in a circuit, teaching.^{(V) 7} 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) 8} He instructed them to take nothing for the road except a walking stick: no bread, no traveling bag,^(AC) no money in their belts. ⁹ They were to wear sandals, but not put on an extra shirt.^{(AD) 10} Then He said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ 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]

¹² So they went out and preached^(AH) that people should repent.^{(AI) 13} And they were driving out many demons,^(AJ) anointing^(AK) many sick^(AL) people with olive oil,^(AM) and healing them.^(AN)

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ 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.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He’s Elijah.”^(AV) Still others said, “He’s a prophet^[d]—like one of the prophets.”^(AW)

¹⁶ When Herod^(AX) heard of it, he said, “John,^(AY) the one I beheaded, has been raised!”^{(AZ) 17} 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) 18} John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful^(BE) for you to have your brother’s wife!”^{(BF) 19} So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill^(BG) him. But she could not, ²⁰ 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)

²¹ 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) 22} 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.” ²³ So he swore^(BR) oaths^(BS) to her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(BT)

²⁴ Then she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s^(BU) head!” she said.

²⁵ 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!”

²⁶ Though the king was deeply distressed,^(BX) because of his oaths^(BY) and the guests^[h] he did not want to refuse^(BZ) her. ²⁷ The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When his disciples^[i](CA) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(CB)