Matthew 14
14
Chapter 14
Herod's soldiers kill John the Baptist
1At that time, people told Herod about the things that Jesus was doing. #14:1 Herod was the ruler in one of the four parts of Israel at that time. 2Herod said to his servants, ‘That man Jesus is really John the Baptist. John died but he has become alive again. That is the reason why this man can do these very powerful things.’
3Before that, Herod had commanded his soldiers, ‘Take hold of John. Tie his hands and feet and put him in prison.’ Herod had done this because of his wife Herodias. Before Herod married her, she was the wife of Herod's brother Philip. 4John had said to Herod, ‘Herodias was your brother's wife. So it is not right for you to have her as your wife.’ #14:4 Herodias had left Philip, her husband. Herod married her. So John told him what Moses had written in the Law. The Law said, ‘A man must not marry his brother's wife while his brother is still alive.’ Herod was not happy with John when he told him that. So Herod sent his men to put John in prison.
5Herod wanted to tell his soldiers that they must kill John. But the people thought that John was a prophet from God. So Herod was afraid to kill him.
6One day, when it was Herod's birthday, he asked people to come to a special meal. The daughter of Herodias danced in front of him and his visitors. Her dance caused Herod to become very happy. 7He said to the girl, ‘Ask me for anything that you want. I make a strong promise that I will give it to you.’ 8Herodias suggested to her daughter, ‘Ask Herod to give you John's head.’ So the girl said to Herod, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a plate.’ 9Then Herod felt sad. But he had made a special promise to the girl, and his visitors had heard him. So he sent his men to do what she had asked for. 10He said to a soldier, ‘Go to the prison and cut off John's head.’ 11The soldier did this. Then he brought the head on a plate and he gave it to the girl. The girl took it and gave it to her mother.
12After this, John's disciples went to the prison. They took away John's body and they buried it. Then they went and they told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus gives food to 5,000 men and their families
13Jesus heard about what had happened to John. After that, he went away from that place. He sailed in a boat to a quiet place where he could be alone. But the crowd heard where Jesus had gone. So they left their towns and they went on land to the place where he was going. 14Jesus got out of the boat. He saw a large crowd there on the shore. He felt sorry for them. There were sick people among them and he made them well again.
15When it was almost evening, Jesus' disciples came to speak to him. They said to him, ‘We are in a place where there are no houses. It will soon be dark. Send the crowd away now, so that they can go to the villages near here. Then they can buy some food for themselves to eat.’
16Jesus said to them, ‘The people do not need to go away. You should give them some food to eat.’
17But the disciples said, ‘We only have five loaves of bread and two fish.’
18‘Bring the bread and fish here to me,’ Jesus said. 19Then he said to the large crowd, ‘Sit down on the grass.’ He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and he thanked God for the bread and the fish. Then he broke the bread into pieces. He gave the pieces of bread to his disciples, and they gave them to the crowd. 20Then everybody ate. They all had enough food and they were not hungry any more. Then the disciples picked up all the bits of food that people had not eaten. They filled 12 baskets with little bits of bread and fish. 21About 5,000 men ate the bread and fish. Women and children also ate it with them. #14:21 Only God could make five loaves of bread and two fish become enough to feed 5,000 men and their families. This showed them that God had caused Jesus to be very powerful.
Jesus walks on the water
22Immediately after this, Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Get in the boat and sail across to the other side of the lake.’ Jesus said that he would first send the crowd away. Then he would also leave. 23So Jesus sent the crowd away. After they had gone, he went up on a mountain alone to pray. When it became dark, he was still there alone. 24At this time the boat with the disciples in it was in the middle of the lake. It was a long way from the land. The wind was blowing against the boat and the water was hitting it.
25Then, when it was nearly dawn, Jesus walked on the water towards his disciples. 26The disciples saw him walking on the water. They were very frightened. ‘It is a spirit,’ they said. They screamed loudly because they were afraid.
27But immediately Jesus said to them. ‘Be brave! It is I. Do not be afraid.’
28Peter replied, ‘Lord, is it really you? If it is you, say to me, “Come here! Walk to me on the water.” ’
29Jesus said to him, ‘Come to me.’
So Peter got down out of the boat. He walked on the water and he came towards Jesus. 30But then Peter saw that the wind was still blowing strongly. He became afraid and he began to go down into the water. He shouted to Jesus, ‘Lord, save me!’
31Immediately, Jesus put out his hand and he took hold of Peter. He said to Peter, ‘You should trust me more than you do. Why did you not believe that I could help you?’
32Jesus and Peter climbed up into the boat. Then the strong wind stopped. 33The disciples who were in the boat went down on their knees. They praised Jesus and they said to him, ‘It is true. You are really the Son of God.’
34They sailed across the lake and reached the shore at a place called Gennesaret. #14:34 Gennesaret was a part of the country on the west side of Lake Galilee.
35The people who lived in that place recognized Jesus. So they went to tell everyone who lived in places near there. People brought all their sick friends to him. 36The sick people asked Jesus for help. They wanted to touch only the edge of his coat. Every sick person who touched him became well again.
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Matthew 14
14
1 AT THAT time Herod the governor heard the reports about Jesus,
2 And he said to his attendants, This is John the Baptist; He has been raised from the dead, and that is why the powers of performing miracles are at work in Him.
3 For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison [to stow him out of the way] on account and for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
4 For John had said to him, It is not lawful or right for you to have her. [Lev. 18:16; 20:21.]
5 Although he wished to have him put to death, he was afraid of the people, for they regarded John as a prophet.
6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst [before the company] and pleased and fascinated Herod,
7 And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8 And she, being put forward and prompted by her mother, said, Give me the head of John the Baptist right here on a platter.
9 And the king was distressed and sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered it to be given her;
10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
11 And his head was brought in on a platter and given to the little maid, and she brought it to her mother.
12 And John's disciples came and took up the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him [by land] on foot from the towns.
14 When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick.
15 When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves.
16 Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.
17 They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.
18 He said, Bring them here to Me.
19 Then He ordered the crowds to recline on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and, looking up to heaven, He gave thanks and blessed and broke the loaves and handed the pieces to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they picked up twelve [small hand] baskets full of the broken pieces left over.
21 And those who ate were about 5,000 men, not including women and children.
22 Then He directed the disciples to get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent away the crowds.
23 And after He had dismissed the multitudes, He went up into the hills by Himself to pray. When it was evening, He was still there alone.
24 But the boat was by this time out on the sea, many furlongs [a furlong is one-eighth of a mile] distant from the land, beaten and tossed by the waves, for the wind was against them.
25 And in the fourth watch [between 3:00–6:00 a.m.] of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, It is a ghost! And they screamed out with fright.
27 But instantly He spoke to them, saying, Take courage! I AM! Stop being afraid! [Exod. 3:14.]
28 And Peter answered Him, Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.
29 He said, Come! So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and he came toward Jesus.
30 But when he perceived and felt the strong wind, he was frightened, and as he began to sink, he cried out, Lord, save me [from death]!
31 Instantly Jesus reached out His hand and caught and held him, saying to him, O you of little faith, why did you doubt?
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 And those in the boat knelt and worshiped Him, saying, Truly You are the Son of God!
34 And when they had crossed over to the other side, they went ashore at Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent around into all the surrounding country and brought to Him all who were sick
36 And begged Him to let them merely touch the fringe of His garment; and as many as touched it were perfectly restored. [Matt. 9:20.]
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