施洗者約翰之死

14 分封王希律聽見耶穌的名聲, 就對臣僕說:「這個人是施洗者約翰!他從死裡復活了,所以能夠行這些神蹟。」

原來希律為他兄弟腓力的妻子希羅底的緣故,拘捕了約翰,把他捆綁起來關在監裡。 因為約翰曾多次對他說:「你娶這個婦人是不對的。」 他想殺掉約翰,但怕觸怒百姓,因為他們都認為約翰是先知。

在希律的生日那天,希羅底的女兒出來在眾人面前跳舞。希律非常高興, 就起誓答應她無論要什麼都可以。 她受了母親的指使,說:「請把施洗者約翰的頭放在盤子裡送給我。」 希律感到為難,但既然在眾賓客面前起了誓,只好下令給她。 10 他派人到監裡砍了約翰的頭, 11 放在盤子裡送給她,她轉送給她母親。 12 約翰的門徒把屍體領回安葬後,就去告訴耶穌。

13 耶穌聽見這個消息,就獨自坐船退到一處偏僻的地方。眾人得知後,就從各城步行來跟隨祂。

耶穌使五千人吃飽

14 耶穌上了岸,看見一大群人,心裡憐憫他們,就治好了他們當中的病人。 15 黃昏時,門徒過來對耶穌說:「這裡是荒郊野外,天又晚了,請遣散眾人,好讓他們到村莊去自己買些吃的。」

16 耶穌回答說:「他們不用離開,你們給他們吃的吧。」

17 門徒答道:「我們這裡只有五個餅和兩條魚。」

18 耶穌說:「拿來給我。」

19 於是,祂叫眾人坐在草地上,然後拿起那五個餅和兩條魚,舉目望著天祝謝後,就掰開餅遞給門徒,讓他們分給眾人。 20 大家都吃飽了,把剩下的零碎收拾起來,竟裝滿了十二個籃子。 21 當時吃飯的,除了婦女和小孩,約有五千男人。

耶穌在水上行走

22 隨後,耶穌催門徒上船,叫他們先渡到湖對岸,祂則遣散眾人。 23 待眾人都離開了,祂就獨自上山去禱告,在那裡一直待到晚上。

24 那時,門徒的船離岸已遠,遇到逆風,船身被波浪撞擊得搖擺不定。 25 天將破曉的時候,耶穌從水面上向門徒走去。 26 門徒看見有人在湖面上走,都嚇壞了,說:「是幽靈!」他們害怕得又喊又叫。

27 耶穌立刻對他們說:「放心吧!是我,不要怕。」

28 彼得說:「主啊!如果真的是你,就叫我從水面上走到你那裡。」

29 耶穌說:「好,你來吧!」

於是,彼得就從船上下去,走在湖面上,要去耶穌那裡。 30 他看到風浪很大,就害怕起來,身體開始往下沉,便大喊:「主啊,救我!」

31 耶穌馬上伸手拉住他,說:「你信心太小了!為什麼懷疑呢?」

32 他們上了船,風浪就平靜了。 33 船上的人都敬拜祂,說:「你真是上帝的兒子。」

34 他們渡到湖對岸,來到革尼撒勒。 35 當地的人認出是耶穌,就派人去把附近所有的病人都帶到祂面前, 36 求耶穌讓他們摸一摸祂衣裳的穗邊,所有摸過的病人都好了。

14 At this time Herod the ruler heard of Jesus.

He said to his servants, `This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from death. That is why he is able to do such great work.'

Herod had taken John and tied him up. He put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She was the wife of his brother Philip.

John had said to Herod, `It is not right for you to have her for your wife.'

Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They thought John was a prophet, a man of God.

On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the people who were there. She pleased Herod.

He was so pleased that he promised to give her anything she asked for.

The girl's mother told her what to ask for. So she said, `Give me here, on a plate, the head of John the Baptizer.'

The king was very sorry to do this. But he had made a promise. And all the people who were there had heard him promise. So he gave orders to do it.

10 He sent someone to the prison to cut off John's head.

11 John's head was brought on a plate. It was given to the girl. And she took it to her mother.

12 Then John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. They went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard this, he went away from there in a boat. He went to a lonely place by himself. The people heard that he went away and they followed him. They walked from the towns around there.

14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw many people. He was sorry for them and he healed those who were sick.

15 In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, `This is a lonely place. And the time is late. Send these people away so they can go to the farms and villages to buy food for themselves.'

16 Jesus said to them, `They need not go away. You give them food to eat.'

17 They said, `We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.'

18 Jesus said, `Bring them here to me.'

19 Then Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples. The disciples gave it to the people.

20 They all ate and had enough. They gathered twelve baskets full of pieces that were left.

21 The number of men who ate was about five thousand, besides some women and children.

22 Then Jesus told the disciples, `You get into the boat right away and go ahead of me to the other side of the sea. And I will send these people away.'

23 After he had sent them away, he went up on the hill by himself to talk with God. Evening came and he was there alone.

24 The boat was far out on the water by this time. The water was beating against the boat and the wind was blowing the wrong way.

25 When it was almost morning, Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.

26 His disciples saw him walking on the water. They were afraid, and said, `It is a spirit!' Then they shouted loudly because they were afraid.

27 Then Jesus spoke to them right away. He said, `Be glad! It is I. Do not fear.'

28 Peter said, `Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.'

29 Jesus said, `Come.' So Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water and went toward Jesus.

30 He saw what the wind did. Then he was afraid and began to go down in the water. He called out, `Lord, save me!'

31 Right away Jesus put out his hand and took hold of him. He said, `You do not believe very much in me! Why did you not believe?'

32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.

33 Then the men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus. They said, `You really are the Son of God.'

34 They crossed over the sea and came to the land at Gennesaret.

35 The men there knew him and sent word to the people in all the country around. They brought all the sick people to him.

36 They begged Jesus to let them touch his clothes. And all the people who touched him were healed.

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.

For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

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

But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.

And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

16 But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

18 He said, Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

20 And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

22 And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

24 But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

32 And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

33 Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

34 And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

14 At that season Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, and said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore do these powers work in him. For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod. Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she should ask. And she, being put forward by her mother, saith, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist. And the king was grieved; but for the sake of his oaths, and of them that sat at meat with him, he commanded it to be given; 10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came, and took up the corpse, and buried him; and they went and told Jesus.

13 Now when Jesus heard it, he withdrew from thence in a boat, to a desert place apart: and when the multitudes heard thereof, they followed him [a]on foot from the cities. 14 And he came forth, and saw a great multitude, and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 And when even was come, the disciples came to him, saying, The place is desert, and the time is already past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food. 16 But Jesus said unto them, They have no need to go away; give ye them to eat. 17 And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. 18 And he said, Bring them hither to me. 19 And he commanded the multitudes to [b]sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. 20 And they all ate, and were filled: and they took up that which remained over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 And they that did eat were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 And straightway he constrained the disciples to enter into the boat, and to go before him unto the other side, till he should send the multitudes away. 23 And after he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when even was come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat [c]was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves; for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came unto them, walking upon the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a ghost; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. 28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee upon the waters. 29 And he said, Come. And Peter went down from the boat, and walked upon the waters [d]to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the [e]wind, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. 31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and took hold of him, and saith unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? 32 And when they were gone up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And they that were in the boat [f]worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

34 And when they had crossed over, they came to the land, unto Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place knew him, they sent into all that region round about, and brought unto him all that were sick; 36 and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 14:13 Or, by land
  2. Matthew 14:19 Greek recline.
  3. Matthew 14:24 Some ancient authorities read was many furlongs distant from the land.
  4. Matthew 14:29 Some ancient authorities read and came.
  5. Matthew 14:30 Many ancient authorities add strong.
  6. Matthew 14:33 See marginal note on 2:2.