Part 8

005:043 but He gave strict injunctions that the matter should not be made known, and directed them to give her something to eat.

006:001 Leaving that place He came into His own country, accompanied by His disciples.

006:002 On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. "Where did he acquire all this?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform?

006:003 Is not this the carpenter, Mary's son, the brother of James and Joses, Jude and Simon? And do not his sisters live here among us?" So they turned angrily away.

006:004 But Jesus said to them, "There is no Prophet without honour except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own home."

006:005 And He could not do any miracle there, except that He laid His hands on a few who were out of health and cured them; and

006:006 He wondered at their unbelief. So He went round the adjacent villages, teaching.

006:007 Then summoning the Twelve to Him, He proceeded to send them out by twos, and gave them authority over the foul spirits.

006:008 He charged them to take nothing for the journey except a stick; no bread, no bag, and not a penny in their pockets,

006:009 but to go wearing sandals. "And do not," He said, "put on an extra under garment.

006:010 Wherever you enter a house, make it your home till you leave that place.

006:011 But wherever they will not receive you or listen to you, when you leave shake off the very dust from under your feet to bear witness concerning them."

006:012 So they set out, and preached in order that men might repent.

006:013 Many demons they expelled, and many invalids they anointed with oil and cured.

006:014 King Herod heard of all this (for the name of Jesus had become widely known), and he kept saying, "John the Baptizer has come back to life, and that is why these miraculous Powers are working in him."

006:015 Others asserted that He was Elijah. Others again said, "He is a Prophet, like one of the great Prophets."

006:016 But when Herod heard of Him, he said, "The John, whom I beheaded, has come back to life."

006:017 For Herod himself had sent and had had John arrested and had kept him in prison in chains, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her.

006:018 For John had repeatedly told Herod, "You have no right to be living with your brother's wife."

006:019 Therefore Herodias hated him and wished to take his life, but could not;

006:020 for Herod stood in awe of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and he protected him. After listening to him he was in great perplexity, and yet he found a pleasure in listening.

006:021 At length Herodias found her opportunity. Herod on his birthday gave a banquet to the nobles of his court and to the tribunes and the principal people in Galilee,

006:022 at which Herodias's own daughter came in and danced, and so charmed Herod and his guests that he said to her, "Ask me for anything you please, and I will give it to you."

006:023 He even swore to her, "Whatever you ask me for I will give you, up to half my kingdom."

006:024 She at once went out and said to her mother: "What shall I ask for?" "The head of John the Baptizer," she replied.

006:025 The girl immediately came in, in haste, to the King and made her request. "My desire is," she said, "that you will give me, here and now, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist."

006:026 Then the King, though intensely sorry, yet for the sake of his oaths, and of his guests, would not break faith with her.

006:027 He at once sent a soldier of his guard with orders to bring John's head. So he went and beheaded him in the prison,