Matthew 14:1-21 ▼

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus;

2 and he said to his servants: This is John The Immerser; he has risen from the dead; and for this reason the powers of the spiritual world are active within him.

3 For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

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

5 And he intended to put him to death, but feared the multitude, because they regarded him as a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and pleased Herod.

7 Wherefore he promised, with an oath, to give her whatever she would ask.

8 And being previously instigated by her mother, she said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Immerser?

9 And the king was grieved: but on account of his oath, and those who reclined at table with him, he commanded it to be given.

10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought in a dish, and given to the maiden: and she carried it to her mother.

12 And his disciples came and took away the body, and buried it; and went and told Jesus.

13 And when Jesus heard of it, he withdrew from that place, by ship, into a desert place apart: and the multitudes, when they heard of his departure, followed him, on foot, from the cities.

14 And when Jesus came out, he saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion for them, and cured their sick.

15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, and said: This is a desert place, and the hour is now past; send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.

16 But Jesus said to them: They need not go away; do you give them food.

17 They said to him: We have here but five loaves and two fishes.

18 He said: Bring them hither to me.

19 And he commanded the multitudes to recline upon the grass: and he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke, and gave the bread to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the multitudes.

20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what remained of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full.

21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.