Leaving the room, Ishmael greets Peter, who laughs about his middle-of-the-night terror. At a long table, all the residents of the inn eat breakfast together and swap stories. At the head of the table sits Queequeg, who spears his steak with his harpoon. 

After breakfast, Ishmael ventures into the streets of New Bedford; exploring this unknown town, Ishmael encounters a diverse range of individuals, including "cannibals conversing at street intersections" and "Vermont residents eager for the prestige" of whaling. Despite its oddities, Ishmael deems New Bedford an "ideal place to reside" due to its lovely parks, well-maintained gardens, and stately homes, all of which are constructed from materials derived from the ocean.

Along the way, Ishmael visits the Whaleman’s Chapel and notices that the chapel walls are adorned with marble plaques honoring whalers who perished at sea. As he joins the congregation, he is surprised to notice Queequeg among the crowd. Father Mapple ascends to the pulpit—which was built to resemble the bow of a ship—using a ladder that he then pulls up after himself.

Father Mapple’s sermon focuses on the story of Jonah, who received divine instructions to preach the word of God in a foreign land. However, Jonah disregarded this command; enraged by Jonah’s refusal, God determined to punish him by being consumed by a whale. After expressing remorse, Jonah was eventually saved. As Father Mapple preaches, he refers to his congregation as his “shipmates” and alludes to the whaling career of his youth.