Add parallel Print Page Options

14 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” For Herod had arrested John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 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 among them and pleased Herod. Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.”

The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10 and he sent and beheaded John in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the young lady; and she brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples came, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.”

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

17 They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass; and he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 They all ate and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 In the fourth watch of the night,[a] Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.See Job 9:8 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! [b] Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

29 He said, “Come!”

Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 When the people of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick; 36 and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe[c] of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.

Footnotes

  1. 14:25 The night was equally divided into four watches, so the fourth watch is approximately 3:00 a.m. to sunrise.
  2. 14:27 or, I AM!
  3. 14:36 or, tassel

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