And blessed - I think the word God should be inserted here, as in Matthew 14:19. See the note there. The food we receive from God is already blessed, and does not stand in need of being blessed by man; but God, who gives it, deserves our warmest thanksgivings, as frequently as we are called to partake of his bounty.

looked.

Mark 7:34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and said to him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened.

Matthew 14:19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven...

Luke 9:16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and broke...

John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father...

John 17:1 These words spoke Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify your Son...

blessed.

Mark 8:6,7 And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and broke...

Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which he has given you.

1 Samuel 9:13 As soon as you be come into the city, you shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat...

Matthew 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave to his disciples...

Matthew 26:26 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take...

Luke 24:30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and broke, and gave to them.

John 6:11,23 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down...

Acts 27:35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

Romans 14:6 He that regards the day, regards it to the Lord; and he that regards not the day, to the Lord he does not regard it. He that eats...

1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

1 Timothy 4:4,5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving...

Herod --A Startled Conscience
'But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.'--Mark vi. 16. The character of this Herod, surnamed Antipas, is a sufficiently common and a sufficiently despicable one. He was the very type of an Eastern despot, exactly like some of those half-independent Rajahs, whose dominions march with ours in India; capricious, crafty, as the epithet which Christ applied to him, 'That fox!' shows; cruel, as the story of the murder of John the Baptist proves; sensuous …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Come Rest Awhile
On returning from their missionary tour, "the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat." The disciples came to Jesus and told Him all things. Their intimate relationship with Him encouraged them to lay before Him their favorable and unfavorable experiences, …
Ellen Gould White—The Desire of Ages

"Give Ye them to Eat"
Christ had retired to a secluded place with His disciples, but this rare season of peaceful quietude was soon broken. The disciples thought they had retired where they would not be disturbed; but as soon as the multitude missed the divine Teacher, they inquired, "Where is He?" Some among them had noticed the direction in which Christ and His disciples had gone. Many went by land to meet them, while others followed in their boats across the water. The Passover was at hand, and, from far and near, …
Ellen Gould White—The Desire of Ages