Matthew

¹ At that time Prince Herod heard of the fame of Jesus,

² and said to his attendants, “This must be John the Baptist; he must be risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him.”

³ For Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and shut him up in prison, to please Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.

⁴ For John had said to him ‘You have no right to be living with her.’

⁵ Yet, though Herod wanted to put him to death, he was afraid of the people, because they looked on John as a prophet.

⁶ But, when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before his guests, and so pleased Herod,

⁷ that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

⁸ Prompted by her mother, the girl said ‘Give me here, on a dish, the head of John the Baptist.’

⁹ The king was distressed at this; yet, because of his oath and of the guests at his table, he ordered it to be given her.

¹⁰ He had John beheaded in the prison

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

¹² Then John’s disciples came, and took the body away, and buried it; and went and told Jesus.

¹³ When Jesus heard of it, he left privately in a boat to a lonely spot. The people, however, heard of his going, and followed him in crowds from the towns on foot.

¹⁴ On getting out of the boat, Jesus saw a great crowd, and his heart was moved at the sight of them; and he cured all the sick among them.

¹⁵ In the evening the disciples came up to him, and said, “This is a lonely spot, and the day is now far advanced; send the crowds away so that they can go to the villages, and buy themselves food.”

¹⁶ But Jesus said, “They need not go away, it is for you to give them something to eat.”

¹⁷ “We have nothing here,” they said, “except five loaves and two fish.”

¹⁸ “Bring them here to me,” was his reply.

¹⁹ Jesus ordered the people to take their seats on the grass; and, taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and said the blessing, and, after he had broken the loaves, gave them to his disciples; and they gave them to the crowds.

²⁰ Everyone had sufficient to eat, and they picked up enough of the broken pieces that were left to fill twelve baskets.

²¹ The men who ate were about five thousand in number, without counting women and children.

²² Immediately afterward Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and cross over in advance of him, while he dismissed the crowds.

²³ After dismissing the crowds, he went up the hill by himself to pray; and, when evening fell, he was there alone.

²⁴ The boat was by this time some miles from shore, laboring in the waves, for the wind was against her.

²⁵ Three hours after midnight, however, Jesus came towards the disciples, walking on the water.

²⁶ But, when they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they exclaimed, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus at once spoke to them. “Courage!” he said, “It is I; do not be afraid!”

²⁸ “Master,” Peter exclaimed, “if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ Jesus said, “Come.” So Peter got down from the boat, and walked on the water, and went towards Jesus;

³⁰ but, when he felt the wind, he was frightened, and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Master! Save me!”

³¹ Instantly Jesus stretched out his hand, and caught hold of him. “You of little faith!” he said, “Why did you falter?”

³² When they had got into the boat, the wind dropped.

³³ But the men in the boat threw themselves on their faces before him, and said, “You are indeed God’s Son.”

³⁴ When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.

³⁵ But the people of that place, recognizing Jesus, sent out to the whole country around, and brought to him all who were ill,

³⁶ begging him merely to let them touch the tassel of his cloak; and all who touched were made perfectly well.