Mark 6

Christ reacheth in his own country where he is despised 1 sends forth his apostles to preach and to work miracles 7 Divers opinions of Christ as well of the Jews as of Herod who takes him for John the Baptist 14 whose imprisonment beheading and burial is related upon his occasion 17 the apostles came again to Christ who departeth to them into a desert places 30 where a great multitude followeth him of about five thousand men which feedeth with five loaves and two fishes 33 causeth his disciples to pass the sea or lake and in the mean time prayeth on the mountain 45 afterwards he comes to them by night walking on the sea and calmeth the wind 48 and being come ashore healeth all manner of sicknesses.54.

1. And he went away from thence and he came into his own country [namely to Nazareth which is called his country because he was brought up there and had dwelt there a long time with his parents see Matthew 13 verse 54 and Luke 4 verse 16]and his disciples followed him .

2. And when the Sabbath was come he began to teach in the Synagogue and many who heard him were astonished [Gr. were stricken] saying from whence come those things to his man? and what was one this which is given unto him that even such mighty works [that is miracles or wonderful signs see Matthew 7:22]are done by his hands ?[that is by him an Hebrew phrase]

3. is not in the carpenter Matthew 13:55 there it is like that Christ did help him in the hand crast until he entered upon his office of teaching which was also a part of humiliation Luke 2:51] the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? [That is their cousin see the annotate Matthew 13:55] and are not his sister here with us? And they were offended at him.

4. And Jesus said unto them a prophet is not disesteemed but in his own country and among his kinred and in his own house.

5. And he could do no powerful work there [how this is to be understood see the annotations on Matthew 13:58] but tat he laid the hands on a few sick and healed them.

6. And marveled at their unbelief and went about the villages there round about teaching.

7. And he called unto him the twelve [namely which he had chosen for his apostle Mark 3:13] and began to send them forth two and two and gave them power over unclean spirits [namely to be able to cast them out of the possessed]

8. And he commanded them that they should take nothing for the way but only a staff [namely to lean and rest upon in going but none to burden them on the way as is to be seen Matthew 10 verse 10] no scrip no bread no money [Gr brass because in former times money used much to be on brass also thereby may here be understood even the very least provision of money] in the girdle.

9. But that they should tie on shoe soles [Gr. Sandalia which were certain fort of light shoes consisting of soles with shoe tie or latches to fasten them to the feet which were very usual in those hot country Acts 12:8 of these they were to take no more than one pair for to travel for to take more shoes with them on the way was expressly forbidden them Matthew 10:10] and not be cloathed with two coats [that is with more ten ye shall have on without carrying one coat more along with them for change]

10. And he said unto them where so ever ye shall enter in the house abides there until ye go forth from thence.

11. And whosoever shall not receive ye nor hear ye departing from thence shake off the dust that is under your feet [the reason hereof see Matthew 10:14] for a testimony unto them verily I say unto ye it shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorra in the day of judgment then for that city.

12. And being gone forth they preached that they should repent.

13. And they cast out many devils and anointed many that were sick with oil and made them whole [this anointing is also the laying in of hands touching and the like manner of doings which Christ and the apostles used in healing of disease did not give health but were out ward sign only that is miraculous healing was done by the divine power of Christ and the ministry of the apostles which signs were used as long as the gift of miraculous healing endured see Mark 16:18 James 5:14 and since that gift ceased these signs must cease likewise as serving for no further use .

14. And King Herod heard of it [see of this Herod and his whole history Matthew 14:1 c] for his name [namely the name of Jesus] was made known and said John that baptized is raised from the dead and therefore those powers do work in him [that is now he cometh with greater power than before for John himself had done no miracle John 10:41]

15. Others said he is Elias and others said he is a prophet [that is of the old deceased prophet]

16. But when Herod heard it he said this is John whom I beheaded he is raised from the dead.

17. For the same Herod having sent forth some had apprehended John and bound him in prison because of Herodias his brother Philip wife he having married her.

18. For John said unto Herod it is not lawful for thee to have brother’s wife.

19. And Herodias laid wait for him and would put him to death but could not.

20. For Herod feared John knowing that he was a righteous and holy man and held him in esteem [or kept him] and when he heard him h did many things and heard him gladly [namely at first for afterwards being stirred up by Herodias he fought to kill him although he forbare it for fear of people until the opportunity happened Matthew 14:5.]

21. And when a covenant day was come [that is a fit time which Herodias waited for to obtain her purpose] when Herod on his birthday prepared a feast for the great ones rulers over thousand and the chiefest of Galilee.

22. And when the daughter of the said Herodias came in namely into the hall where the feast was kept for it was not very usual with ancient that the women sate down with man in great feast see Esthar1.11] and danced and pleased Herod and those that sate with him then the king said to the Damosel ask of me even what thou wilt and I will give it thee.

23. And he swared unto her whatsoever thou shalt ask I will give it thee even to the half of the kingdom.

24. And she being gone forth said unto her mother what shall I ask? And she said the head of John the Baptist.

25. And she straightway with speed going in unto the king asked it saying I will that thou now straightway give me in a dish the head of John the Baptist.

26. And the king being become very sorry nevertheless because of the oaths and those that sate with him he would not refuse her the same [Gr. not put her off that is not refuse the request.]

27. And the king immediately sent and executioner [or sergeant Halbardea one of the life guard] and commanded to bring his head thither now this fellow went away and beheaded him in the prison.

28. And brought his head in a dish and gave the same to the Damosel and the Damosel gave the same to her mother.

29. And when his disciples heard this they went and took away his dead body and lay in a grave.

30. And the apostles came together again unto Jesus [namely returning from their journey which after their being sent forth two and two they had taken through the land of Judea]and told him all things both what they had done and what they had taught.

31. And he said unto them come ye into a desert place [or solitary this was by Bethsaida Matthew 14:13 Luke 9:10] here alone [or apart] and rest a little for they were many which came and went and they no convenient time so much as to eat.

32. And they departed into a ship unto a desert place alone

33. And the multitude saw them pass away and many began to know and ran together afoot from all cities thitherward and prevented them and went together unto him.

34. And Jesus going forth saw a great multitude [see concerning this whole miracle the annotations on Matthew 14:15 &c] and was inwardly moved in compassion towards them for they were as sheep which had no shepherd and he began to teach them many things.

35. And when it was grown late now by the day [Gr. when the hour was grown much now for the Jews reckoned the hours of rising of the sun and ended the with the evening Matthew 20 verse6] his disciples came unto him and said this place is desert and it is now late by day.

36. Dismiss them from thee that they may go into the villages [Gr. fields that are country houses or villages] and hamlets lying round about and may buy bread for themselves for they have nothing to eat.

37. But he answering said unto them give ye them to eat and they said unto him shall we go and buy bread for two hundred pence [Gr. Denarit see the value hereof Matthew 18:28] and give them to eat?

38. And he said unto them how many loaves have ye? Go and see and when they have noticed of it [Gr. had understood or knew it] they said five and two fishes.

39. And he commanded them that they should cause them all to fit down by companies [Gr. companies or meals an Hebrew phrase that is in several companies like as at great feast or weddings the people used to be divided by several tables]on the green grass .

40. And they sate down [Gr. fell] in parties [Gr. garden beds that is distinguished as the beds of the herbs in gardens are whereby the number might easily be reckoned] by an hundred together and by an fifty together.

41. And when he had taken the five loaves and two fishes he looked up to heaven blessed [namely with thanksgiving see Matthew 14:19 John 6:11] and brake the loaves and gave them to his disciples that they should set them before them and the two fishes he divided to them all .

42. And they did all eat and were satisfied.

43. And they took up twelve baskets full of fragments and of the fishes.

44. And they that had eaten of the loaves were about five thousand men.

45. And straightway he constrained his disciple to go into the ship and to pass before to the other side over against Bethsaida [for John 6:17] it is said tat they went towards Capernaum which lay over against Bethsaida ]while he dismissed the multitude.

46. And when he had dismissed them [or taken his leave of them as Acts 18:21] he went up into the mountain to pray.

47. And when it was become evening now the ship was in the midst of the sea and he was alone on the land [or shore]

48. And he saw that they toiled much to advance the ship [or that they were distressed in rowing] for the wind was against them and about the forth watch of the night [which was the last see Matthew 14:25] he came unto them walking upon the sea and would pass them by.

49. And they seeing seeing him walk upon the sea thought that it was an apparition [or phantasm that is a spirit appearing in the bodily shape] and shrieked greatly.

50. For they all saw him and were troubled and straightway he spake with them and said unto them be of good cheer it is I fear not.

51. And he got them into the ship and the wind was still and they were astonished exceedingly themselves [Gr. very abundantly] and wondered.

52. For they had not taken notice of the miracle of the loaves [Gr not understood of or by the loaves that is they were not become more understanding by that which was done with the five loaves namely to be assured thereby of Christ divine power and care for them see Mark 8verse 17,20,21] for their heart was hardened [Gr become brawny which is not to be understood of such a hardness and stupidity of heart as was before shewed and reproved in the stiff necked Jews chapter 3 verse 5 but of their want of understanding and slowness well to apprehend and believe spiritual things see the like Mark 8:17 and 16.14 Luke 24:15]

53. And when they were passed over they came into the land Gennesareth and took haven there

54. And when they were gone forth out of the ship they [namely the people of that land] presently knew him.

55. And running all the adjacent country over they began to carry on little beds those that were ill at ease to the places where they heard that there was.

56. And where so ever he came into towns or cities or villages [Gr fields] there they laid the sick in the markets and prayed him that they might but touch the hem of the garments [see the reason of this touching in the annotations on Matthew 14:36] And as many as touched him were made whole .