Matthew

The Beheading of John

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus

2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

4because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.

6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod

7so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.

8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

9The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted

10and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.

11John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

12Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.

The Feeding of the Five Thousand

13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”

17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.

19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

21About five thousand men were fed, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on Water

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.

23After He had dismissed them, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,

24but the boat was already farfrom land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25During the fourth watch of the night,Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.

26When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

27But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

28“Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29“Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

30But when he saw the strength of the wind,he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”

32And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.

33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals at Gennesaret

34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

35And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him

36and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.”

3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.

4For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

7Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

8She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”

9The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

10and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

11His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother.

12His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”

16But Jesus said to them,“They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”

18He said,“Bring them here to me.”

19He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

20They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

21Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

24But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25In the fourth watch of the night,Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear.

27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying,“Cheer up! It is I!Don’t be afraid.”

28Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

29He said,“Come!”Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

30But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him,“You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

32When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

34When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick;

36and they begged him that they might just touch the fringeof his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.