Matthew 14:1-19 ▼

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, and said to his servants,

2 "This is John the Immerser; He arose from the dead; and therefore do the powers work in Him."

3 For Herod, having laid hold of John, bound him, and put him in prison, because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

5 And, wishing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because they were holding him as a prophet.

6 But, on a birthday celebration of Herod, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.

7 Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

8 And she, urged on by her mother, says, "Give me here upon a plate the head of John the Immerser."

9 And the king, though grieved, yet , because of the oaths and of those sitting at the table with them, ordered it to be given;

10 and, having sent, he beheaded John in the prison;

11 and his head was brought upon a plate, and given to the damsel; and she brought it to her mother.

12 And his disciples, coming, took up the corpse, and buried it; and, coming, they told Jesus;

13 And Jesus, having heard it , withdrew thence, in a boat, into a desert, apart. And the multitudes, hearing of it , followed Him on foot from the cities.

14 And Jesus, coming forth, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion over them, and healed their sick.

15 And, evening coming on, the disciples came to Him, saying, "The place is desert, and the time already passed by: dismiss the multitudes, that, having gone into the villages, they may buy food for themselves."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They have no need to go away. Give ye them to eat."

17 And they say to Him, "We have nothing here except five loaves and two fishes."

18 And He said, "Bring them here to Me."

19 And, having commanded the multitudes to recline on the grass—taking the five loaves and two fishes—looking up into the heaven, He blessed; and, having broken, He gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes.