Matteo 14
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Erode e Gesù
14 In quel tempo il tetrarca Erode ebbe notizia della fama di Gesù. 2 Egli disse ai suoi cortigiani: «Costui è Giovanni il Battista risuscitato dai morti; per ciò la potenza dei miracoli opera in lui».
Esecuzione di Giovanni Battista
3 Erode aveva arrestato Giovanni e lo aveva fatto incatenare e gettare in prigione per causa di Erodìade, moglie di Filippo suo fratello. 4 Giovanni infatti gli diceva: «Non ti è lecito tenerla!». 5 Benché Erode volesse farlo morire, temeva il popolo perché lo considerava un profeta.
6 Venuto il compleanno di Erode, la figlia di Erodìade danzò in pubblico e piacque tanto a Erode 7 che egli le promise con giuramento di darle tutto quello che avesse domandato. 8 Ed essa, istigata dalla madre, disse: «Dammi qui, su un vassoio, la testa di Giovanni il Battista». 9 Il re ne fu contristato, ma a causa del giuramento e dei commensali ordinò che le fosse data 10 e mandò a decapitare Giovanni nel carcere. 11 La sua testa venne portata su un vassoio e fu data alla fanciulla, ed ella la portò a sua madre. 12 I suoi discepoli andarono a prendere il cadavere, lo seppellirono e andarono a informarne Gesù.
Prima moltiplicazione dei pani
13 Udito ciò, Gesù partì di là su una barca e si ritirò in disparte in un luogo deserto. Ma la folla, saputolo, lo seguì a piedi dalle città. 14 Egli, sceso dalla barca, vide una grande folla e sentì compassione per loro e guarì i loro malati.
15 Sul far della sera, gli si accostarono i discepoli e gli dissero: «Il luogo è deserto ed è ormai tardi; congeda la folla perché vada nei villaggi a comprarsi da mangiare». 16 Ma Gesù rispose: «Non occorre che vadano; date loro voi stessi da mangiare». 17 Gli risposero: «Non abbiamo che cinque pani e due pesci!». 18 Ed egli disse: «Portatemeli qua». 19 E dopo aver ordinato alla folla di sedersi sull'erba, prese i cinque pani e i due pesci e, alzati gli occhi al cielo, pronunziò la benedizione, spezzò i pani e li diede ai discepoli e i discepoli li distribuirono alla folla. 20 Tutti mangiarono e furono saziati; e portarono via dodici ceste piene di pezzi avanzati. 21 Quelli che avevano mangiato erano circa cinquemila uomini, senza contare le donne e i bambini.
Gesù cammina sulle acque e Pietro con lui
22 Subito dopo ordinò ai discepoli di salire sulla barca e di precederlo sull'altra sponda, mentre egli avrebbe congedato la folla. 23 Congedata la folla, salì sul monte, solo, a pregare. Venuta la sera, egli se ne stava ancora solo lassù.
24 La barca intanto distava gia qualche miglio da terra ed era agitata dalle onde, a causa del vento contrario. 25 Verso la fine della notte egli venne verso di loro camminando sul mare. 26 I discepoli, a vederlo camminare sul mare, furono turbati e dissero: «E' un fantasma» e si misero a gridare dalla paura. 27 Ma subito Gesù parlò loro: «Coraggio, sono io, non abbiate paura». 28 Pietro gli disse: «Signore, se sei tu, comanda che io venga da te sulle acque». 29 Ed egli disse: «Vieni!». Pietro, scendendo dalla barca, si mise a camminare sulle acque e andò verso Gesù. 30 Ma per la violenza del vento, s'impaurì e, cominciando ad affondare, gridò: «Signore, salvami!». 31 E subito Gesù stese la mano, lo afferrò e gli disse: «Uomo di poca fede, perché hai dubitato?».
32 Appena saliti sulla barca, il vento cessò. 33 Quelli che erano sulla barca gli si prostrarono davanti, esclamando: «Tu sei veramente il Figlio di Dio!».
Guarigioni nel paese di Genèsaret
34 Compiuta la traversata, approdarono a Genèsaret. 35 E la gente del luogo, riconosciuto Gesù, diffuse la notizia in tutta la regione; gli portarono tutti i malati, 36 e lo pregavano di poter toccare almeno l'orlo del suo mantello. E quanti lo toccavano guarivano.
Matthew 14
Amplified Bible
John the Baptist Beheaded
14 At that time Herod [Antipas], the tetrarch [who governed a portion of Palestine including Galilee and Perea], heard the reports about Jesus,(A) 2 and said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and that is why the miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3 For Herod had John arrested and bound him and put him in prison [at the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Jordan, to keep him away] because of [a]Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip,(B) 4 for John had said to him, “It is not lawful (morally right) for you to have her [living with you as your wife].”(C) 5 Although Herod wished to have him put to death, he feared the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, [his niece Salome], the daughter of Herodias danced [immodestly] before them and pleased and fascinated Herod, 7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 She, being coached by her mother [Herodias], said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests, he ordered it to be given her. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother [Herodias]. 12 And John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Five Thousand Fed
13 When Jesus heard about John, He left there privately in a boat and went to a secluded place. But when the crowds heard of this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.(D) 14 When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt [profound] compassion for them and healed their sick.
15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late; send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat!” 17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and He took the five loaves and the two fish and, looking up toward heaven, He blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people, 20 and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up twelve full baskets of the leftover broken pieces. 21 There were about 5,000 men who ate, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22 Immediately He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side [of the Sea of Galilee], while He sent the crowds away.(E) 23 After He had dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was there alone. 24 But the boat [by this time] was already a [b]long distance from land, tossed and battered by the waves; for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.(F) 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately He spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I! Do not be afraid!”(G)
28 Peter replied to Him, “Lord, if it is [really] You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 He said, “Come!” So Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw [the effects of] the wind, he was frightened, and he began to sink, and he cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus extended His hand and caught him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you [c]doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him [with awe-inspired reverence], saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
34 When they had crossed over [the sea], they went ashore at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word throughout all the surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick; 36 and they begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His robe; and all who touched it were perfectly restored.(H)
Footnotes
- Matthew 14:3 Herodias was not the lawful wife of Herod Antipas. She was married to her uncle, Herod Philip I. She deserted him in order to live with another uncle, Herod Antipas, whose legal wife was the daughter of Aretas, King of Arabia.
- Matthew 14:24 Lit many stadia; a stadion being about an eighth of a mile or 192 meters.
- Matthew 14:31 I.e. allow yourself to be drawn in two directions.
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