5
And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.”
6
So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
7
When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
8
Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9
“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?” And he kept trying to see him.
10
When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.
11
But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
12
Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, “Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place.”
13
But Jesus said, “You feed them.” “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered. “Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?”
14
For there were about 5,000 men there. Jesus replied, “Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each.”