Jesus Goes to His Home Town

6 ¹Jesus left there and went back to his home town. His followers went with him. ²On the Sabbath day* Jesus taught in the synagogue.* Many people heard him teach and were amazed. These people said, "Where did this man get this teaching? How did he get this wisdom? Who gave it to him? And where did he get the power to do miracles*? [Surely, not from God!] ³He is only the carpenter. And his mother is Mary. He is the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters are here with us." The people did not accept Jesus. ⁴Jesus said to the people, "Other people give honor to a prophet.* But in his own town with his own people and in his own home, a prophet does not get honor." ⁵Jesus was not able to do many miracles* in that town. The only miracles he did were to heal some sick people by putting his hands on them. ⁶Jesus was very surprised because those people did not have faith. Then Jesus went to other villages in that area and taught.

Jesus Sends His Apostles on a Mission

⁷Jesus called the twelve followers together. Jesus sent them out in groups of two. Jesus gave them power over evil spirits. ⁸This is what Jesus told his followers: "Take nothing for your trip. Take only a stick for walking. Take no bread, no bag, and no money in your pockets. ⁹Wear shoes, and take only the clothes you are wearing. ¹⁰When you enter a house, stay in that house until you leave that town. ¹¹If any town refuses to accept you or refuses to listen to you, then leave that town. Shake their dust off your feet.* This will be a warning to them." ¹²The followers left there and went to other places. They talked to the people and told them to change their hearts and lives. ¹³The followers forced many demons* out of people. And the followers put olive oil on* sick people and healed them.

Herod Thinks Jesus Is John the Baptizer

¹⁴King Herod* heard about Jesus, because Jesus was now famous. Some people said, "[He (Jesus) is] John the Baptizer. He is risen from death. That is why he can do these miracles.*" ¹⁵Other people said, "He is Elijah.*" Other people said, "Jesus is a prophet.* He is like the prophets that lived long ago." ¹⁶Herod* heard these things about Jesus. He said, "I killed John by cutting off his head. Now John has been raised from death!"

How John the Baptizer Was Killed

¹⁷Herod* himself had ordered his soldiers to arrest John. So John was put into prison. Herod did this to please his wife, Herodias. Herodias was the wife of Philip, Herod's brother. But then Herod married Herodias. ¹⁸John told Herod that it was not right for him to be married to his brother's wife. ¹⁹So Herodias hated John. She wanted to kill him. But Herodias was not able to persuade Herod to kill John. ²⁰Herod was afraid to kill John. Herod knew that all the people thought John was a good and holy man. So Herod protected John. Herod enjoyed listening to John preach. But John's message always bothered Herod. ²¹Then the right time came for Herodias to cause John's death. It happened on Herod's* birthday. Herod gave a dinner party for the most important government leaders, the commanders of his army, and the most important people in Galilee. ²²The daughter of Herodias came to the party and danced. When she danced, Herod and the people eating with him were very pleased. So King Herod* said to the girl, "I will give you anything you want." ²³Herod promised her, "Anything you ask for I will give to you. I will even give you half of my kingdom." ²⁴The girl went to her mother and asked, "What should I ask King Herod* to give me?" Her mother answered, "Ask for the head of John the Baptizer." ²⁵Quickly the girl went back in to the king. The girl said to the king, "Please give me the head of John the Baptizer. Bring it to me now on a plate." ²⁶King Herod* was very sad. But he had promised to give the girl anything she wanted. And the people eating there with Herod heard his promise. So Herod did not want to refuse the thing she asked for. ²⁷So the king sent a soldier to cut off John's head and bring it. So the soldier went and cut off John's head in the prison. ²⁸Then the soldier brought John's head back on a plate. He gave the head to the girl. Then the girl gave the head to her mother. ²⁹John's followers heard about what happened. So they came and got John's body. They put it in a tomb* (grave).

Sabbath day The seventh day of the Jewish week. It was a special religious day for the Jews. synagogue(s) Synagogues were places where Jews gathered for prayer, study of the Scriptures, and other public meetings. miracle(s) Amazing works done by God's power. prophet A person that spoke for God. Shake their dust off your feet A warning. It would show that they were finished talking to these people. demon(s) Demons are evil spirits from the devil. put olive oil on Olive oil was used like a medicine. Herod Herod Antipas, tetrarch (ruler) of Galilee and Perea, son of Herod the Great. Elijah A man that spoke for God about 850 B.C. tomb A grave dug in a wall of rock.