< Matthew 14 >

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
At that time news of Jesus came to Herod the king;
2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
And he said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he has come back from the dead, and so these powers are working in him.
3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
For Herod had taken John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
4 because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
Because John had said to him, It is not right for you to have her.
5 Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
And he would have put him to death, but for his fear of the people, because in their eyes John was a prophet.
6 On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias was dancing before them, and Herod was pleased with her.
7 so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
So he gave her his word with an oath to let her have whatever she might make request for.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
And she, at her mother's suggestion, said, Give me here on a plate the head of John the Baptist.
9 The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
And the king was sad; but because of his oaths and because of his guests, he gave the order for it to be given to her;
10 and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
And he sent and had John's head cut off in the prison.
11 John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
And his head was put on a plate and given to the girl; and she took it to her mother.
12 Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
And his disciples came, and took up his body and put it in the earth; and they went and gave Jesus news of what had taken place.
13 When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
Now when it came to the ears of Jesus, he went away from there in a boat, to a waste place by himself: and the people hearing of it, went after him on foot from the towns.
14 When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
And he came out and saw a great number of people and he had pity on them, and made well those of them who were ill.
15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
And when evening had come, the disciples came to him, saying, This place is waste land, and the time is now past; send the people away so that they may go into the towns and get themselves food.
16 “They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
But Jesus said to them, There is no need for them to go away; give them food yourselves.
17 “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
And they say to him, We have here but five cakes of bread and two fishes.
18 “Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
And he said, Give them to me.
19 And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
And he gave orders for the people to be seated on the grass; and he took the five cakes of bread and the two fishes and, looking up to heaven, he said words of blessing, and made division of the food, and gave it to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the people.
20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
And they all took of the food and had enough: and they took up twelve baskets full of broken bits which were not used.
21 About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.
And those who had food were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.
22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
And straight away he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, till he had sent the people away.
23 After He had sent them away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone,
And after he had sent the people away, he went up into the mountain by himself for prayer: and when evening was come, he was there by himself.
24 but the boat was already far from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, and was troubled by the waves: for the wind was against them.
25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the sea.
And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.
26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.
And when they saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they gave cries of fear.
27 But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
But straight away Jesus said to them, Take heart; it is I, have no fear.
28 “Lord, if it is You,” Peter replied, “command me to come to You on the water.”
And Peter, answering, said to him, Lord, if it is you, give me the order to come to you on the water.
29 “Come,” said Jesus. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.
And he said, Come. And Peter got out of the boat, and walking on the water, went to Jesus.
30 But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
But when he saw the wind he was in fear and, starting to go down, he gave a cry, saying, Help, Lord.
31 Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and took hold of Peter. “You of little faith,” He said, “why did you doubt?”
And straight away Jesus put out his hand and took a grip of him, and said to him, O man of little faith, why were you in doubt?
32 And when they had climbed back into the boat, the wind died down.
And when they had got into the boat, the wind went down.
33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
And those who were in the boat gave him worship, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.
34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
And when they had gone across, they came to land at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding region. People brought all the sick to Him
And when the men of that place had news of him, they sent into all the country round about, and took to him all who were ill,
36 and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.
With the request that they might only put their hands on the edge of his robe: and all those who did so were made well.

< Matthew 14 >