^{1 Ref} At that time did Herod the tetrarch hear the fame of Jesus,

^{2 Ref} and said to his servants, `This is John the Baptist, he did rise from the dead, and because of this the mighty energies are working in him.'

^{3 Ref} For Herod having laid hold on John, did bind him, and did put him in prison, because of Herodias his brother Philip's wife,

^{4 Ref} for John was saying to him, `It is not lawful to thee to have her,'

^{5 Ref} and, willing to kill him, he feared the multitude, because as a prophet they were holding him.

^{6 Ref} But the birthday of Herod being kept, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst, and did please Herod,

^{7 Ref} whereupon with an oath he professed to give her whatever she might ask.

^{8 Ref} And she having been instigated by her mother -- `Give me (says she) here upon a plate the head of John the Baptist;

^{9 Ref} and the king was grieved, but because of the oaths and of those reclining with him, he commanded `it' to be given;

^{10 Ref} and having sent, he beheaded John in the prison,

^{11 Ref} and his head was brought upon a plate, and was given to the damsel, and she brought `it' nigh to her mother.

^{12 Ref} And his disciples having come, took up the body, and buried it, and having come, they told Jesus,

^{13 Ref} and Jesus having heard, withdrew thence in a boat to a desolate place by himself, and the multitudes having heard did follow him on land from the cities.

^{14 Ref} And Jesus having come forth, saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion upon them, and did heal their infirm;

^{15 Ref} and evening having come, his disciples came to him, saying, `The place is desolate, and the hour hath now past, let away the multitudes that, having gone to the villages, they may buy to themselves food.'

^{16 Ref} And Jesus said to them, `They have no need to go away -- give ye them to eat.'

^{17 Ref} And they say to him, `We have not here except five loaves, and two fishes.'

¹⁸ And he said, `Bring ye them to me hither.'

^{19 Ref} And having commanded the multitudes to recline upon the grass, and having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he did bless, and having broken, he gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes,

^{20 Ref} and they did all eat, and were filled, and they took up what was over of the broken pieces twelve hand-baskets full;

^{21 Ref} and those eating were about five thousand men, apart from women and children.

^{22 Ref} And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to go into the boat, and to go before him to the other side, till he might let away the multitudes;

^{23 Ref} and having let away the multitudes, he went up to the mountain by himself to pray, and evening having come, he was there alone,

^{24 Ref} and the boat was now in the midst of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

^{25 Ref} And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went away to them, walking upon the sea,

^{26 Ref} and the disciples having seen him walking upon the sea, were troubled saying -- `It is an apparition,' and from the fear they cried out;

^{27 Ref} and immediately Jesus spake to them, saying, `Be of good courage, I am `he', be not afraid.'

^{28 Ref} And Peter answering him said, `Sir, if it is thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters;'

^{29 Ref} and he said, `Come;' and having gone down from the boat, Peter walked upon the waters to come unto Jesus,

^{30 Ref} but seeing the wind vehement, he was afraid, and having begun to sink, he cried out, saying, `Sir, save me.'

^{31 Ref} And immediately Jesus, having stretched forth the hand, laid hold of him, and saith to him, `Little faith! for what didst thou waver?'

^{32 Ref} and they having gone to the boat the wind lulled,

^{33 Ref} and those in the boat having come, did bow to him, saying, `Truly -- God's Son art thou.'

^{34 Ref} And having passed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret,

^{35 Ref} and having recognized him, the men of that place sent forth to all that region round about, and they brought to him all who were ill,

^{36 Ref} and were calling on him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment, and as many as did touch were saved.

^{1 Ref} At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus,

^{2 Ref} and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptizer. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him."

^{3 Ref} For Herod had laid hold of John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

^{4 Ref} For John said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

^{5 Ref} When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

^{6 Ref} But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced among them and pleased Herod.

^{7 Ref} Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask.

^{8 Ref} She, being prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer."

^{9 Ref} The king was grieved, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given,

^{10 Ref} and he sent and beheaded John in the prison.

^{11 Ref} His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady: and she brought it to her mother.

^{12 Ref} His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.

^{13 Ref} Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.

^{14 Ref} Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick.

^{15 Ref} When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, "This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food."

^{16 Ref} But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."

^{17 Ref} They told him, "We only have here five loaves and two fish."

¹⁸ He said, "Bring them here to me."

^{19 Ref} 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, broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave to the multitudes.

^{20 Ref} They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces.

^{21 Ref} Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

^{22 Ref} Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat, and to go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

^{23 Ref} After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into the mountain by himself to pray. When evening had come, he was there alone.

^{24 Ref} But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

^{25 Ref} In the fourth watch of the night,{The night was equally divided into four watches, so the fourth watch is approximately 3:00 A. M. to sunrise.} Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

^{26 Ref} When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out for fear.

^{27 Ref} But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up! I AM!{see Exodus 3:14.} Don't be afraid."

^{28 Ref} Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters."

^{29 Ref} He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the waters to come to Jesus.

^{30 Ref} But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

^{31 Ref} Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"

^{32 Ref} When they got up into the boat, the wind ceased.

^{33 Ref} Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"

^{34 Ref} When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.

^{35 Ref} When the men of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to him all who were sick,

^{36 Ref} and they begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.