Matthew 14
Common English Bible
Death of John the Baptist
14 At that time Herod the ruler[a] heard the news about Jesus. 2 He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He’s been raised from the dead. This is why these miraculous powers are at work through him.” 3 Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.
4 That’s because John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry her.”
5 Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet. 6 But at Herod’s birthday party Herodias’ daughter danced in front of the guests and thrilled Herod. 7 Then he swore to give her anything she asked.
8 At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a plate.” 9 Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests he commanded that they give it to her. 10 Then he had John beheaded in prison. 11 They brought his head on a plate and gave it to the young woman, and she brought it to her mother. 12 But John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
Feeding the five thousand
13 When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15 That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”
17 They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21 About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.
Walking on the water
22 Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23 When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24 Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25 Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.
27 Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
29 And Jesus said, “Come.”
Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”
31 Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” 32 When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.
33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”
Healing the sick
34 When they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 When the people who lived in that place recognized him, they sent word throughout that whole region, and they brought to him everyone who was sick. 36 Then they begged him that they might just touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched him was cured.
Footnotes
- Matthew 14:1 Or tetrarch, which refers to a prince over a small region
Matthew 14
Worldwide English (New Testament)
14 At this time Herod the ruler heard of Jesus.
2 He said to his servants, `This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from death. That is why he is able to do such great work.'
3 Herod had taken John and tied him up. He put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias. She was the wife of his brother Philip.
4 John had said to Herod, `It is not right for you to have her for your wife.'
5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They thought John was a prophet, a man of God.
6 On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the people who were there. She pleased Herod.
7 He was so pleased that he promised to give her anything she asked for.
8 The girl's mother told her what to ask for. So she said, `Give me here, on a plate, the head of John the Baptizer.'
9 The king was very sorry to do this. But he had made a promise. And all the people who were there had heard him promise. So he gave orders to do it.
10 He sent someone to the prison to cut off John's head.
11 John's head was brought on a plate. It was given to the girl. And she took it to her mother.
12 Then John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. They went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard this, he went away from there in a boat. He went to a lonely place by himself. The people heard that he went away and they followed him. They walked from the towns around there.
14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw many people. He was sorry for them and he healed those who were sick.
15 In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, `This is a lonely place. And the time is late. Send these people away so they can go to the farms and villages to buy food for themselves.'
16 Jesus said to them, `They need not go away. You give them food to eat.'
17 They said, `We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish.'
18 Jesus said, `Bring them here to me.'
19 Then Jesus told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and thanked God for them. Then he broke the bread and gave it to the disciples. The disciples gave it to the people.
20 They all ate and had enough. They gathered twelve baskets full of pieces that were left.
21 The number of men who ate was about five thousand, besides some women and children.
22 Then Jesus told the disciples, `You get into the boat right away and go ahead of me to the other side of the sea. And I will send these people away.'
23 After he had sent them away, he went up on the hill by himself to talk with God. Evening came and he was there alone.
24 The boat was far out on the water by this time. The water was beating against the boat and the wind was blowing the wrong way.
25 When it was almost morning, Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.
26 His disciples saw him walking on the water. They were afraid, and said, `It is a spirit!' Then they shouted loudly because they were afraid.
27 Then Jesus spoke to them right away. He said, `Be glad! It is I. Do not fear.'
28 Peter said, `Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.'
29 Jesus said, `Come.' So Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water and went toward Jesus.
30 He saw what the wind did. Then he was afraid and began to go down in the water. He called out, `Lord, save me!'
31 Right away Jesus put out his hand and took hold of him. He said, `You do not believe very much in me! Why did you not believe?'
32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.
33 Then the men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus. They said, `You really are the Son of God.'
34 They crossed over the sea and came to the land at Gennesaret.
35 The men there knew him and sent word to the people in all the country around. They brought all the sick people to him.
36 They begged Jesus to let them touch his clothes. And all the people who touched him were healed.
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