Matthew 14:1-29 ▼

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news of Jesus,

2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he was raised from the dead! And because of this, the miraculous powers are working in him.”

3 For Herod, having seized John, bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother.

4 For John was saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

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

6 But the birthday of Herod having come, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased Herod,

7 whereupon he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she might ask.

8 And having been urged on by her mother, she says, “Give to me here upon a platter the head of John the Baptist.”

9 And the king, having been made sorrowful because of the oaths and those reclining with him, commanded it to be given.

10 And having sent, he beheaded John in the prison.

11 And his head was brought on a platter and was given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

12 And having come, his disciples took up the body and buried it. And having come, they reported it to Jesus.

13 And having heard, Jesus withdrew from there in a boat to a wilderness place by Himself. And having heard, the crowds followed Him on foot from the cities.

14 And having gone out, He saw a great crowd and was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.

15 And evening having come, the disciples came to Him, saying, “This place is desolate, and the time already is gone by. Therefore dismiss the crowds so that, having gone to the villages, they might buy food for themselves.”

16 But Jesus said to them, “They have no need to go away. You? give them something to eat.”

17 And they say to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”

18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”

19 And having commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fish, having looked up to the heaven, He blessed. And having broken, He gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds.

20 And all ate and were satisfied, and they took up the superabounding of the fragments, twelve hand-baskets full.

21 And those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.

22 And immediately He compelled the disciples to enter into the boat and to go before Him to the other side, until He might dismiss the crowds.

23 And having dismissed the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. And evening having come, He was there alone,

24 and the boat, being now many stadia from the land, is distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25 And in the fourth watch of the night He went to them, walking on the sea.

26 And the disciples, having seen Him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.

27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage! I am He! Do not” be afraid.

28 And answering Him, Peter said, “Lord, if You are He, command me to come to You on the waters.”

29 And He said, “Come.” And having gone down from the boat, Peter walked on the waters and came to Jesus.