A Prophet Without Honor
1Jesus left there and went to his hometown, accompanied by his disciples. 2When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed.
“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? 3Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,6:3 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph Judas and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.
4Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.” 5He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6He was amazed at their lack of faith.
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve
Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village. 7Calling the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two and gave them authority over impure spirits.
8These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. 9Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. 10Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. 11And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”
12They went out and preached that people should repent. 13They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil and healed them.
John the Baptist Beheaded
14King Herod heard about this, for Jesus’ name had become well known. Some were saying,6:14 Some early manuscripts He was saying “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
15Others said, “He is Elijah.”
And still others claimed, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago.”
16But when Herod heard this, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised from the dead!”
17For Herod himself had given orders to have John arrested, and he had him bound and put in prison. He did this because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, whom he had married. 18For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19So Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him. But she was not able to, 20because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man. When Herod heard John, he was greatly puzzled6:20 Some early manuscripts he did many things; yet he liked to listen to him.
21Finally the opportune time came. On his birthday Herod gave a banquet for his high officials and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22When the daughter of6:22 Some early manuscripts When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests.
The king said to the girl, “Ask me for anything you want, and I’ll give it to you.” 23And he promised her with an oath, “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”
24She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?”
“The head of John the Baptist,” she answered.
25At once the girl hurried in to the king with the request: “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”
26The king was greatly distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he did not want to refuse her. 27So he immediately sent an executioner with orders to bring John’s head. The man went, beheaded John in the prison, 28and brought back his head on a platter. He presented it to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 29On hearing of this, John’s disciples came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
30The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
32So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. 33But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. 34When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.
35By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. 36Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
37But he answered, “You give them something to eat.”
They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages6:37 Greek take two hundred denarii! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?”
38“How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.”
When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”
39Then Jesus directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to distribute to the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and were satisfied, 43and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
Jesus Walks on the Water
45Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray.
47Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50because they all saw him and were terrified.
Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
53When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret and anchored there. 54As soon as they got out of the boat, people recognized Jesus. 55They ran throughout that whole region and carried the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56And wherever he went—into villages, towns or countryside—they placed the sick in the marketplaces. They begged him to let them touch even the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
Nabii Hana Heshima Kwao
(Mathayo 13:53-58; Luka 4:16-30)
16:1 Mt 2:23; 13:54; Lk 4:16Yesu akaondoka huko na kwenda mji wa kwao, akiwa amefuatana na wanafunzi wake. 26:2 Mk 1:21; Mt 4:23; 7:28Ilipofika siku ya Sabato, akaanza kufundisha katika sinagogi, na wengi waliomsikia wakashangaa.
Nao wakauliza, “Mtu huyu ameyapata wapi mambo haya yote? Tazama ni hekima ya namna gani hii aliyopewa? Tazama matendo ya miujiza ayafanyayo kwa mikono yake! 36:3 Mt 12:46; 11:6; Yn 6:61Huyu si yule seremala, mwana wa Maria? Na ndugu zake si Yakobo, Yose,6:3 Yosefu kwa Kiyunani ni Joses. Yuda na Simoni? Dada zake wote si tuko nao hapa kwetu?” Nao wakachukizwa sana kwa ajili yake, wakakataa kumwamini.
46:4 Lk 4:24; Yn 4:44Yesu akawaambia, “Nabii hakosi heshima isipokuwa katika mji wake mwenyewe, na miongoni mwa jamaa na ndugu zake, na nyumbani kwake.” 56:5 Mk 5:23; Mwa 19; 22; 32:25; Mt 13:58Hakufanya miujiza yoyote huko isipokuwa kuweka mikono yake juu ya wagonjwa wachache na kuwaponya. 66:6 Mt 9:35; Lk 13:22Naye akashangazwa sana kwa jinsi wasivyokuwa na imani.
Yesu Awatuma Wale Kumi Na Wawili
(Mathayo 10:5-15; Luka 9:1-6)
Kisha Yesu akawa anakwenda kutoka kijiji kimoja hadi kingine akifundisha. 76:7 Mk 3:13; Kum 17:6; Lk 10:1; Mt 10:1Akawaita wale kumi na wawili, akawatuma wawili wawili, na kuwapa mamlaka kutoa pepo wachafu.
8Akawaagiza akisema, “Msichukue chochote kwa ajili ya safari isipokuwa fimbo tu. Msichukue mkate, wala mkoba, wala fedha kwenye mikanda yenu. 96:9 Mdo 12:8Vaeni viatu, lakini msivae nguo ya ziada.” 106:10 Mt 10:11; Lk 9:4; 10:7, 8Akawaambia, “Mkiingia kwenye nyumba yoyote, kaeni humo hadi mtakapoondoka katika mji huo. 116:11 Mt 10:14Kama mahali popote hawatawakaribisha wala kuwasikiliza, mtakapoondoka huko, kungʼuteni mavumbi kutoka kwenye miguu yenu ili kuwa ushuhuda dhidi yao.”
126:12 Lk 9:6Kwa hiyo wakatoka na kuhubiri kwamba inawapasa watu kutubu na kuacha dhambi. 136:13 Yak 5:14Wakatoa pepo wachafu wengi, wakawapaka wagonjwa wengi mafuta na kuwaponya.
Yohana Mbatizaji Akatwa Kichwa
(Mathayo 14:1-12; Luka 9:7-9)
146:14 Mt 3:1Mfalme Herode akasikia habari hizi, kwa maana jina la Yesu lilikuwa limejulikana sana. Watu wengine walikuwa wakisema, “Yohana Mbatizaji amefufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu, ndiyo sababu nguvu za kutenda miujiza zinafanya kazi ndani yake.”
156:15 Mal 4:5; Mt 2:11; 16:14; Mk 8:28Wengine wakasema, “Yeye ni Eliya.”
Nao wengine wakasema, “Yeye ni nabii, kama mmojawapo wa wale manabii wa zamani.”
166:16 Mt 14:2; Lk 3:19Lakini Herode aliposikia habari hizi, akasema, “Huyo ni Yohana Mbatizaji, niliyemkata kichwa, amefufuliwa kutoka kwa wafu!”
176:17 Mt 11:12; Lk 3:19-20Kwa kuwa Herode alikuwa ameagiza kwamba Yohana Mbatizaji akamatwe, afungwe na kutiwa gerezani. Alifanya hivi kwa sababu ya Herodia, mke wa Filipo, ndugu yake, ambaye Herode alikuwa amemwoa. 186:18 Law 18:16; 20:21Yohana alikuwa amemwambia Herode, “Si halali kwako kuwa na mke wa ndugu yako.” 19Kwa hiyo Herodia alikuwa amemwekea Yohana kinyongo akataka kumuua. Lakini hakuweza, 206:20 Mt 11:9; 21:26kwa sababu Herode alimwogopa Yohana akijua kwamba ni mtu mwenye haki na mtakatifu, hivyo akamlinda. Herode alifadhaika sana alipomsikia Yohana, lakini bado alipenda kumsikiliza.
216:21 Es 1:3; 2:18; Lk 3:1Mfalme Herode alifanya karamu kubwa wakati wa sikukuu ya kuzaliwa kwake. Akawaalika maafisa wake wakuu, majemadari wa jeshi na watu mashuhuri wa Galilaya. Hatimaye Herodia alipata wasaa aliokuwa akiutafuta. 22Binti yake Herodia alipoingia na kucheza, akamfurahisha Herode pamoja na wageni wake walioalikwa chakulani.
Mfalme Herode akamwambia yule binti, “Niombe kitu chochote utakacho, nami nitakupa.” 236:23 Es 5:3-6; 7:2Tena akamwahidi kwa kiapo, akamwambia, “Chochote utakachoomba nitakupa, hata kama ni nusu ya ufalme wangu.”
24Yule binti akatoka nje, akaenda kumuuliza mama yake, “Niombe nini?”
Mama yake akamjibu, “Omba kichwa cha Yohana Mbatizaji.”
25Yule binti akarudi haraka kwa mfalme, akamwambia, “Nataka unipe sasa hivi kichwa cha Yohana Mbatizaji kwenye sinia.”
266:26 Mt 14:9Mfalme akasikitika sana, lakini kwa sababu alikuwa ameapa viapo mbele ya wageni wake, hakutaka kumkatalia. 27Mara mfalme akatuma askari mmojawapo wa walinzi wake kukileta kichwa cha Yohana. Akaenda na kumkata Yohana kichwa humo gerezani, 28akakileta kichwa chake kwenye sinia na kumpa yule msichana, naye yule msichana akampa mama yake. 29Wanafunzi wa Yohana walipopata habari hizi, wakaja na kuuchukua mwili wake, wakauzika kaburini.
Yesu Awalisha Wanaume 5,000
(Mathayo 14:13-21; Luka 9:10-17; Yohana 6:1-14)
306:30 Lk 24:10; Mdo 1:2, 26; Lk 9:10Wale mitume wakakusanyika kwa Yesu na kumpa taarifa ya mambo yote waliyokuwa wamefanya na kufundisha. 316:31 Mk 3:20Basi kwa kuwa watu wengi mno walikuwa wakija na kutoka, hata wakawa hawana nafasi ya kula, Yesu akawaambia wanafunzi wake, “Twendeni peke yetu mahali pa faragha, mpate kupumzika.”
326:32 Mk 6:45; 4:36Hivyo wakaondoka kwa mashua peke yao, wakaenda mahali pasipo na watu. 33Lakini watu wengi waliowaona wakiondoka, wakawatambua, nao wakaenda haraka kwa miguu kutoka miji yote, nao wakatangulia kufika. 346:34 Mt 9:36Yesu alipofika kando ya bahari, aliona makutano makubwa ya watu, akawahurumia kwa maana walikuwa kama kondoo wasiokuwa na mchungaji. Kwa hiyo akaanza kuwafundisha mambo mengi.
356:35 Mk 8:1-9; Mt 14:15; Lk 9:11Mchana ulipokuwa umeendelea sana, wanafunzi wake walienda kwake, wakamwambia, “Mahali hapa ni nyikani, nazo saa zimekwenda sana. 36Waage watu ili waende mashambani na vijijini jirani, wakajinunulie chakula.”
376:37 2Fal 4:42-44Lakini Yesu akawajibu, “Ninyi wapeni chakula.”
Wakamwambia, “Je, twende tukanunue mikate ya dinari 2006:37 Dinari moja ilikuwa kama mshahara wa kibarua wa siku moja; hivyo dinari 200 ni sawa na mshahara wa siku 200. ili tuwape watu hawa wale?”
386:38 Mt 15:34; Mk 8:5Akawauliza, “Kuna mikate mingapi? Nendeni mkaangalie.”
Walipokwisha kujua wakarudi, wakamwambia, “Kuna mikate mitano na samaki wawili.”
39Kisha Yesu akawaamuru wawaketishe watu makundi makundi kwenye majani, 40nao wakaketi kwenye makundi ya watu mia mia na wengine hamsini hamsini. 416:41 Mt 14:19Yesu akaichukua ile mikate mitano na wale samaki wawili, akainua macho yake akatazama mbinguni, akavibariki na kuimega ile mikate. Kisha akawapa wanafunzi wake ili wawagawie wale watu wote. Pia akawagawia wote wale samaki wawili. 42Watu wote wakala, wakashiba. 436:43 Kum 28:5Nao wanafunzi wake wakakusanya vipande vilivyosalia vya mikate na samaki, wakajaza vikapu kumi na viwili. 44Idadi ya wanaume waliokula walikuwa 5,000.
Yesu Atembea Juu Ya Maji
(Mathayo 14:22-33; Yohana 6:15-21)
456:45 Mt 11:21Mara Yesu akawaambia wanafunzi wake waingie kwenye mashua watangulie kwenda Bethsaida, wakati yeye alikuwa akiwaaga wale makutano. 466:46 Lk 3:21Baada ya kuwaaga wale watu, akaenda mlimani kuomba.
476:47 Mt 14:23; Yn 6:16, 17Ilipofika jioni, ile mashua ilikuwa imefika katikati ya bahari, na Yesu alikuwa peke yake katika nchi kavu. 486:48 Lk 24:28Akawaona wanafunzi wake wanahangaika na kupiga makasia kwa nguvu, kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa wa mbisho. Wakati wa zamu ya nne ya usiku, Yesu akawaendea wanafunzi wake, akiwa anatembea juu ya maji. Alikuwa karibu kuwapita, 496:49 Lk 24:27lakini walipomwona akitembea juu ya maji, wakadhani ni mzimu. Wakapiga yowe, 506:50 Lk 14:27kwa sababu wote walipomwona waliogopa.
Mara Yesu akasema nao, akawaambia, “Jipeni moyo! Ni mimi. Msiogope!” 516:51 Mk 6:32; 4:39Akapanda ndani ya mashua nao, na ule upepo ukakoma! Wakashangaa kabisa, 526:52 Mk 8:17-21kwa kuwa walikuwa hawajaelewa kuhusu ile mikate. Mioyo yao ilikuwa migumu.
536:53 Yn 6:24-25Walipokwisha kuvuka, wakafika nchi ya Genesareti, wakatia nanga. 54Mara waliposhuka kutoka mashua yao, watu wakamtambua Yesu. 55Wakaenda katika vijiji vyote upesi, wakawabeba wagonjwa kwenye mikeka ili kuwapeleka mahali popote waliposikia kuwa Yesu yupo. 566:56 Mt 9:20; Mk 5:27, 28; Mdo 19:12Kila mahali Yesu alipokwenda, iwe vijijini, mijini au mashambani, watu waliwaweka wagonjwa wao masokoni. Wakamwomba awaruhusu hao wagonjwa waguse japo upindo wa vazi lake. Nao wote waliomgusa waliponywa.
