At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus,
and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been
raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at
work in him.” For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him
in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to
have her.” And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the
people, because they held him to be a prophet. But when Herod's
birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company
and pleased Herod, so that he promised with an oath to give her
whatever she might ask. Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me
the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” And the king was
sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to
be given. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, and his head
was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it
to her mother. And his disciples came and took the body and buried
it, and they went and told Jesus.
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a
desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they
followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a
great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This
is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away
to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus
said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” They
said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” And he
said, “Bring them here to me.” Then he ordered the crowds to sit
down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he
looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves
and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the
crowds. And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up
twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. And those who
ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before
him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. And after he
had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to
pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat by this
time was a long way from the land, beaten by the waves, for the
wind was against them. And in the fourth watch of the night he came
to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking
on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and
they cried out in fear. But immediately Jesus spoke to them,
saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.”
And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come
to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat
and walked on the water and came to Jesus. But when he saw the
wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord,
save me.” Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of
him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And
when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. And those in the boat
worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to
all that region and brought to him all who were sick and implored
him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as
many as touched it were made well.
