Matthew 14:1-36
14 At that time the tetrarch Herod heard the report about Jesus,
2 and said to his servants “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why the powers are operating in him.”
3 For Herod had seized John and put him in chains and put him away in prison on account of Herodias his brother Philip’s wife;
4 for John used to tell him “It is not lawful for you to have her”;
5 and, while he wished to kill him, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded him as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came Herodias’s daughter danced before the company, and pleased Herod,
7 whereat he pledged himself with an oath to give her anything she asked for;
8 but she, prompted by her mother, said “Give me here on a platter John the Baptist’s head.”
9 And the king, though it grieved him, ordered it given to her because of the oaths and of those who were with him at the table;
10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison,
11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother;
12 and his disciples went to his corpse and took it up and buried it, and came and reported the matter to Jesus.
13 And at hearing it Jesus retired in a boat from there to a lonely place by himself; and the crowds heard of it and followed him by land from the cities,
14 and upon landing he saw a great crowd and had pity on them and cured their sick.
15 But when evening came his disciples approached him saying “The place is lonely and the hour is now advanced; so dismiss the crowds, that they may go to the villages and buy themselves eatables.”
16 But Jesus said to them “They need not go; give them something to eat yourselves.”
17 And they said to him “We have nothing here but five cakes of bread and two fishes.”
18 But he said “Bring me them here”;
19 and, bidding the crowd to take their places on the grass, he took the five cakes and the two fishes and looked up to the sky and pronounced the blessing, and broke the cakes and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowd,
20 and they all ate and had their fill; and they took up what was left over of fragments, twelve full baskets,—
21 and it was about five thousand men, apart from women and children, that ate.
22 * And at once he made the disciples get into the boat and go to the other side ahead of him while he dismissed the crowds.
23 And when he had dismissed the crowds he went up on the mountainside by himself to pray. And when evening came he was there alone;
24 ** but the boat was now two or three miles away from the land, having a hard time with the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 But in the fourth watch of the night he came toward them walking on the sea.
26 And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were alarmed, saying “It is an apparition,” and screamed with fear.
27 But at once Jesus spoke to them, saying “All right, it is I, do not be afraid.”
28 And Peter answered him “Sir, if it is you, bid me come to you on the water.”
29 And he said “Come”; and Peter, stepping out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind he was frightened, and, beginning to sink, cried out “Master, help!”
31 And at once Jesus reached out his hand and took hold of him, and said to him “Little-faith, what did you get uncertain for?”
32 and when they stepped into the boat the wind lulled.
33 And those who were in the boat did him reverence, saying “You certainly are the Son of God.”
34 And when they got across they came to land in Gennesaret;
35 and upon recognizing him the men of that place sent to all that region and brought to him all who were ill,
36 and appealed to him that they might just touch the tassel of his cloak; and as many as touched it were made well.
Footnotes
^ 14:22 Var. omits at once
^ 14:24 Lit. was now many furlongs away
^ 14:24 Var. was now in the middle of the sea, having
