Matthew 14:13-21

J.B. Phillips New Testament

^13a When he heard it he went away by boat to a deserted place, quite alone.

Jesus feeds a tired and hungry crowd

^13b-15 Then the crowds heard of his departure and followed him out of the towns on foot. When Jesus emerged from his retreat he saw a vast crowd and was very deeply moved and cured the sick among them. As evening fell his disciples came to him and said, “We are right in the wilds here and it is very late. Send away these crowds now, so that they can go into the villages and buy themselves food.”

¹⁶ “There’s no need for them to go away,” returned Jesus. “You give them something to eat!”

¹⁷ “But we haven’t anything here,” they told him, “except five loaves and two fish.”

¹⁸ To which Jesus replied, “Bring them here to me.”

^19-21 He told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish in his hands, and, looking up to Heaven, he thanked God, broke the loaves and passed them to his disciples who handed them to the crowd. Everybody ate and was satisfied. Afterwards they collected twelve baskets full of the pieces which were left over. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, apart from the women and children.