Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand^(A)(B)

¹³ When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. ¹⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them^(C) and healed their sick.^(D)

¹⁵ As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

¹⁶ Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have here only five loaves^(E) of bread and two fish,” they answered.

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” he said. ¹⁹ And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.^(F) Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. ²⁰ They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. ²¹ The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

²⁵ About midnight^(A) Paul and Silas^(B) were praying and singing hymns^(C) to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. ²⁶ Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.^(D) At once all the prison doors flew open,^(E) and everyone’s chains came loose.^{(F) 27} The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.^{(G) 28} But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”

²⁹ The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.^{(H) 30} He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”^(I)

³¹ They replied, “Believe^(J) in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved^(K)—you and your household.”^{(L) 32} Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³ At that hour of the night^(M) the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.^{(N) 34} The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he^(O) was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

³⁵ When it was daylight, the magistrates sent their officers to the jailer with the order: “Release those men.” ³⁶ The jailer^(P) told Paul, “The magistrates have ordered that you and Silas be released. Now you can leave. Go in peace.”^(Q)

³⁷ But Paul said to the officers: “They beat us publicly without a trial, even though we are Roman citizens,^(R) and threw us into prison. And now do they want to get rid of us quietly? No! Let them come themselves and escort us out.”

³⁸ The officers reported this to the magistrates, and when they heard that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, they were alarmed.^{(S) 39} They came to appease them and escorted them from the prison, requesting them to leave the city.^{(T) 40} After Paul and Silas came out of the prison, they went to Lydia’s house,^(U) where they met with the brothers and sisters^(V) and encouraged them. Then they left.