John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time(A) Herod the tetrarch(B) heard the report about Jesus. “This is John the Baptist!” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why supernatural powers are at work in him.”(C)

For Herod had arrested John, chained[a] him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(D) since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful(E) for you to have her!” Though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, since they regarded him as a prophet.(F)

But when Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them[b] and pleased Herod. So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. And prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter!” Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. 10 So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,[c] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

Feeding 5,000

13 When Jesus heard about it,(G) He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns. 14 As He stepped ashore,[d] He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.(H)

15 When evening came, the disciples(I) approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late.[e] Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

17 “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.

18 “Bring them here to Me,” He said. 19 Then He commanded the crowds to sit down[f] on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.(J) 20 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!(K) 21 Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.

Walking on the Water

22 Immediately(L) He[g] made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23 After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.(M) 24 But the boat was already over a mile[h] from land,[i] battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Around three in the morning,[j] He came toward them walking on the sea.(N) 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

27 Immediately Jesus spoke to them. “Have courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”(O)

28 “Lord, if it’s You,” Peter answered Him, “command me to come to You on the water.”

29 “Come!” He said.

And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strength of the wind,[k] he was afraid. And beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand, caught hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”(P) 32 When they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Then those in the boat worshiped Him and said, “Truly You are the Son of God!”(Q)

Miraculous Healings

34 Once they crossed over,(R) they came to land at Gennesaret.(S) 35 When the men of that place recognized Him, they alerted[l] the whole vicinity and brought to Him all who were sick. 36 They were begging Him that they might only touch the tassel on His robe. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.(T)

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 14:3 Or bound
  2. Matthew 14:6 Lit danced in the middle
  3. Matthew 14:12 Other mss read body
  4. Matthew 14:14 Lit Coming out (of the boat)
  5. Matthew 14:15 Lit and the time (for the evening meal) has already passed
  6. Matthew 14:19 Lit to recline
  7. Matthew 14:22 Other mss read Jesus
  8. Matthew 14:24 Lit already many stadia; 1 stadion = 600 feet
  9. Matthew 14:24 Other mss read already in the middle of the sea
  10. Matthew 14:25 Lit fourth watch of the night = 3 to 6 a.m.
  11. Matthew 14:30 Other mss read saw the wind
  12. Matthew 14:35 Lit sent into

The Death of John the Baptist(A)

14 At that time Herod the tetrarch,[a] hearing about the fame of Jesus, told his servants, “This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why these miracles are being done by him.” Herod had arrested John, bound him with chains, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s[b] wife.

John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” Although Herod[c] wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, since they regarded John[d] as a prophet.

But when Herod’s birthday celebration was held, the daughter of Herodias danced before the guests.[e] She pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me, right here on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.” Under pressure because of his promises and his assembled guests, the king ordered that it be done. 10 So he sent word[f] and had John beheaded in prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 12 When John’s[g] disciples came, they carried off the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds More than Five Thousand People(B)

13 When Jesus heard this, he left that place and went[h] by boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the neighboring[i] towns. 14 When he got out of the boat,[j] he saw a large crowd. He had compassion for them and healed their sick. 15 When evening had come, the disciples went to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it’s already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus told them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 They told him, “We don’t have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them to me.” 19 Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves in pieces and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples gave them[k] to the crowds. 20 All of them ate and were filled. Then the disciples[l] picked up what was left of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21 Now those who had eaten were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Sea(C)

22 Jesus[m] immediately had the disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him, while he sent the crowds away. 23 After dismissing the crowds, he went up on a hillside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24 By this time the boat was in the middle of the sea[n] and was being battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 Shortly before dawn,[o] Jesus[p] came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and cried out, “It’s a ghost!” And they screamed in terror.

27 “Have courage!” Jesus immediately told them. “It’s me. Stop being afraid!”

28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”

29 Jesus[q] said, “Come on!” So Peter got down out of the boat, started walking on the water, and came[r] to Jesus.

30 But when he noticed the strong[s] wind, he was frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, save me!”

31 At once Jesus reached out his hand, caught him, and asked him, “You who have so little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 As they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.

33 Then the men in the boat began to worship Jesus,[t] saying, “You certainly are the Son of God!”

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret(D)

34 They crossed over and came ashore at Gennesaret. 35 When the men of that place recognized Jesus,[u] they sent word[v] throughout that region and brought him everyone who was sick. 36 They kept begging him to let them touch just the tassel of his garment, and everyone who touched it was completely healed.

Footnotes

  1. Matthew 14:1 I.e. Herod Antipas, a son of King Herod and ruler over one of four districts in and around the territory of Israel.
  2. Matthew 14:3 Other mss. read his brother’s
  3. Matthew 14:5 Lit. he
  4. Matthew 14:5 Lit. him
  5. Matthew 14:6 Lit. in the middle
  6. Matthew 14:10 The Gk. lacks word
  7. Matthew 14:12 Lit. his
  8. Matthew 14:13 The Gk. lacks and went
  9. Matthew 14:13 The Gk. lacks neighboring
  10. Matthew 14:14 The Gk. lacks of the boat
  11. Matthew 14:19 The Gk. lacks gave them
  12. Matthew 14:20 Lit. they
  13. Matthew 14:22 Lit. He
  14. Matthew 14:24 Other mss. read many furlongs from the land
  15. Matthew 14:25 Lit. In the fourth watch of the night
  16. Matthew 14:25 Lit. he
  17. Matthew 14:29 Lit. He
  18. Matthew 14:29 Other mss. read to go
  19. Matthew 14:30 Other mss. lack strong
  20. Matthew 14:33 Lit. him
  21. Matthew 14:35 Lit. him
  22. Matthew 14:35 The Gk. lacks word