14:1  At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,

14:2  and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

14:3  For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

14:4  For John had been saying to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

14:5  Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

14:6  But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before {them} and pleased Herod,

14:7  so {much} that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

14:8  Having been prompted by her mother, she *said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

14:9  Although he was grieved, the king commanded {it} to be given because of his oaths, and because of his dinner guests.

14:10  He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

14:11  And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

14:12  His disciples came and took away the body and buried it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

14:13  Now when Jesus heard {about John,} He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the people heard {of this,} they followed Him on foot from the cities.

14:14  When He went ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.

14:15  When it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, "This place is desolate and the hour is already late; so send the crowds away, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

14:16  But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away; you give them {something} to eat!"

14:17  They *said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."

14:18  And He said, "Bring them here to Me."

14:19  Ordering the people to sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up toward heaven, He blessed {the food,} and breaking the loaves He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples {gave them} to the crowds,

14:20  and they all ate and were satisfied. They picked up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve full baskets.

14:21  There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.

14:22  Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.

14:23  After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.

14:24  But the boat was already a long distance from the land, battered by the waves; for the wind was contrary.

14:25  And in the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.

14:26  When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, "It is a ghost! And they cried out in fear."

14:27  But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

14:28  Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

14:29  And He said, "Come! And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water and came toward Jesus."

14:30  But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"

14:31  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

14:32  When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

14:33  And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "You are certainly God's Son!"

14:34  When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

14:35  And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent {word} into all that surrounding district and brought to Him all who were sick;

14:36  and they implored Him that they might just touch the fringe of His cloak; and as many as touched {it} were cured.