The Skeptics Annotated Bible (780 page)

(6.3c-5)
“They were offended at him … and he could do there no mighty work.”
Jesus is rejected by those who knew him the best, the people from his home town of Nazareth.
369 How much power did Jesus have?
59 Can God do anything?

6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

7 And
he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits;

(6.7)
“He called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits.”
Jesus sends out his apostles, two by two, to cast out unclean spirits.

8
And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only
; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse:

9
But be shod with sandals
; and not put on two coats.

(6.8-9)
“And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only … But be shod with sandals.”
353 Did Jesus tell his apostles to go barefoot and without a staff?

10 And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place.

11 And
whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you
, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you,
It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.

(6.11)
“Whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you … It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”
Any city that doesn’t receive the followers of Jesus will be destroyed in a manner even more savage than that of Sodom and Gomorrah.

12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

13 And
they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

(6.13)
“They cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.”

14 And
king Herod heard of him
; (for his name was spread abroad:)
and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead
, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

(6.14)
“King Herod heard of him
[Jesus]
… and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead.”

15
Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets
.

(6.15)
“Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.”

16 But
when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.

(6.16)
“When Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.”
362 Did Herod think Jesus was John the Baptist?

17 For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife: for he had married her.

18 For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother’s wife.

19 Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not: