Matthew 14Book 40 of 66 · 36 verses · MBT primary, NKJV fallback where MBT pending
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."
Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as 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.
So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
Then his disciples came, removed the corpse, buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.
When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.
When he went ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
When evening came, the disciples approached him and said, "This place is deserted, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves."
But Jesus said to them, "They don’t need to go away; you give them something to eat."
And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
He said, "Bring them here to Me."
Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
So they all ate and were filled, and they picked up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
After dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. Well into the night, he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the boat was already some distance from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.
Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. "It’s a ghost!" they said, 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 and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”
And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.”
When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding region, and brought to Him all who were sick,
and begged Him that they might only touch the fringe of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.