Yohana Mbatizaji Akatwa Kichwa

14 Wakati huo, mfalme Herode alisikia habari za Yesu; akawaam bia watumishi wake, “Huyu ni Yohana Mbatizaji, amefufuka kutoka kwa wafu; ndio sababu nguvu za kutenda miujiza zinafanya kazi ndani yake.”

Herode alikuwa amemkamata Yohana akamfunga na kumweka gere zani kwa sababu ya Herodia, mke wa Filipo, kaka yake. Kisa che nyewe ni kwamba Yohana alikuwa amemwambia Herode kuwa, “Si halali kwako kumwoa huyo mwanamke.” Herode alitaka sana kumwua Yohana lakini akaogopa watu kwa maana walimtambua kuwa ni nabii. Lakini siku ya kusherehekea sikukuu ya kuzaliwa kwa Herode, binti ya Herodia alicheza mbele ya watu walioalikwa akamfurahisha sana Herode. Naye akaahidi kwa kiapo kumpa huyo binti lo lote atakaloomba. Kwa kushawishiwa na mama yake, huyo binti akasema, “Nipatie kichwa cha Yohana Mbatizaji kwenye sinia.” Mfalme akajuta; lakini kwa ajili ya kile kiapo alichoapa mbele ya wageni, aliamuru kwamba ombi lake litekelezwe. 10 Akaagiza Yohana Mbatizaji akatwe kichwa mle gerezani, 11 na kichwa chake kikaletwa kwenye sinia, akapewa yule binti, naye akampelekea mama yake.

12 Wanafunzi wa Yohana wakaja, wakauchukua mwili wake wakau zika. Kisha wakaenda, wakamwambia Yesu.

Yesu Alisha Zaidi Ya Watu Elfu Tano

13 Yesu aliposikia haya, aliondoka kwa mashua akaenda mahali pasipo na watu ili awe peke yake. Lakini watu wal ipata habari, wakamfuata kwa miguu kupitia nchi kavu, kutoka mij ini. 14 Yesu alipofika kando ya bahari aliona umati mkubwa wa watu, akawahurumia na akawaponya wagonjwa wao.

15 Ilipofika jioni, wanafunzi wake walimfuata wakamwambia, “Mahali hapa ni nyikani, na siku imekwisha. Waage watu waondoke ili wakajinunulie chakula vijijini.” 16 Yesu akasema, “Hakuna sababu ya wao kuondoka. Ninyi wapeni chakula.” 17 Wakamjibu, “Hapa tuna mikate mitano na samaki wawili tu.” 18 Akawaambia, “Leteni hapa.” 19 Akaagiza wale watu wakae chini kwenye nyasi. Akaichukua ile mikate mitano na wale samaki wawili, akainua macho yake akatazama mbinguni, akaibariki. Akaimega ile mikate akawapa wanafunzi wake, nao wakawapa watu. 20 Wote wakala, wakatosheka. Na wanafunzi wake wakakusanya vipande vipande vilivyosalia, waka jaza vikapu kumi na viwili. 21 Idadi ya watu waliokula, bila kuhesabu wanawake na watoto, ilikuwa kama wanaume elfu tano.

Yesu Atembea Juu Ya Maji

22 Baadaye Yesu akawaambia wanafunzi wake watangulie kwe nye mashua waende ng’ambo ya pili ya ziwa, wakati yeye anawaaga wale watu. 23 Baada ya kuwaaga, akaenda mlimani peke yake kuomba. Jioni ilipofika, Yesu alikuwa hapo peke yake. 24 Wakati huo ile mashua ilikwisha fika mbali, ikisukwa sukwa na mawimbi kwa sababu upepo ulikuwa mkali.

25 Ilipokaribia alfajiri, Yesu akawaendea wanafunzi wake akiwa anatembea juu ya maji. 26 Lakini wanafunzi wake walipom wona akitembea juu ya maji, waliingiwa na hofu kuu. Wakasema, “Ni mzimu.” Wakapiga mayowe kwa hofu. 27 Lakini mara moja Yesu akasema nao, akawaambia, “Jipeni moyo. Ni mimi; msiogope.”

28 Petro akamjibu, “Bwana, kama ni wewe, niambie nije kwako nikitembea juu ya maji.” 29 Yesu akamwambia, “Njoo.” Basi Petro akatoka katika mashua, akatembea juu ya maji akimfuata Yesu. 30 Lakini alipoona upepo mkali aliingiwa na hofu, akaanza kuzama, huku akipiga kelele, “Bwana, niokoe!”

31 Mara Yesu akanyoosha mkono wake, akamshika, akamwambia, “Wewe mwenye imani haba, kwa nini ulikuwa na shaka?” 32 Na walipoingia katika mashua, upepo ukakoma. 33 Wote waliokuwamo katika mashua wakamwabudu wakisema, “Hakika, wewe ni Mwana wa

Yesu Awaponya Wagonjwa Genesareti

34 Walipokwisha kuvuka, wakafika Genesareti. 35 Watu wa eneo lile walipomtambua Yesu, walipeleka habari sehemu zote za jirani na watu wakawaleta wagonjwa wote kwake 36 wakamsihi awaru husu wagonjwa waguse tu pindo la vazi lake. Na wote waliomgusa, waliponywa.

John the Baptist Beheaded(A)

14 At that time Herod(B) the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,(C) and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist;(D) he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison(E) because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(F) for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”(G) Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.(H)

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded(I) in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it.(J) Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(K)(L)

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them(M) and healed their sick.(N)

15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

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

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

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.(P) Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Water(Q)(R)

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.(S) Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,”(T) they said, and cried out in fear.

27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage!(U) It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(V)

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,”(W) he said, “why did you doubt?”

32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”(X)

34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him 36 and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak,(Y) and all who touched it were healed.