Matthew 14
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus,
2and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias (his brother Philip’s wife),
4since John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
5And although he wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people because they considered him to be a prophet.
6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst of the company, and it pleased Herod.
7So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
8And being prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
9And the king regretted it, but because of his oaths and those who were reclining to eat with him, he commanded it to be given,
10and so he sent an executioner, and he beheaded John in the prison.
11And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12And his disciples came and took away the corpse and buried him, and they went and told Jesus.
13Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from there in a boat by himself to a solitary place. And when the multitudes heard about that, they followed him on foot from the surrounding cities.
14And after he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed those who were sick among them.
15Now when evening had come, the disciples came to him, saying, “This is a remote place and the hour is now late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17And they said to him, “We do not have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18And he said, “Bring them here to me.”
19Then he commanded the crowd to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them and broke them. And then he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowd.
20And they all ate and were filled, and they took up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.
21And there were about 5,000 men who ate, not including women and children.
22And immediately he made the disciples enter into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while he sent the crowd away.
23And after he had sent the crowd away, he went up by himself onto the mountain to pray, and when evening had come, he was there alone.
24But the boat was already a long way from the land and was being beaten by the waves because the wind was against them.
25And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the lake.
26And when the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified, saying, “It’s a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!”
28And Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”
29And he said, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30But when he saw the strong wind he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me.”
31And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and grabbed hold of him and said to him, “You of little trust, why did you doubt?”
32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33And those who were in the boat bowed down before him, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”
34And when they had crossed over the lake, they came to land at Gennesaret.
35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into all the surrounding area and brought to him all who were sick.
36And they begged him to let them just touch the fringe of his garment, and everyone who touched him was completely healed.