Matthew 14
14
Death of John the Baptist
1At that time Herod the ruler#14.1 Or tetrarch, which refers to a prince over a small region heard the news about Jesus. 2He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He’s been raised from the dead. This is why these miraculous powers are at work through him.” 3Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.
4That’s because John told Herod, “It’s against the law for you to marry her.”
5Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd because they thought John was a prophet. 6But at Herod’s birthday party Herodias’ daughter danced in front of the guests and thrilled Herod. 7Then he swore to give her anything she asked.
8At her mother’s urging, the girl said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a plate.” 9Although the king was upset, because of his solemn pledge and his guests he commanded that they give it to her. 10Then he had John beheaded in prison. 11They brought his head on a plate and gave it to the young woman, and she brought it to her mother. 12But John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.
Feeding the five thousand
13When Jesus heard about John, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds learned this, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14When Jesus arrived and saw a large crowd, he had compassion for them and healed those who were sick. 15That evening his disciples came and said to him, “This is an isolated place and it’s getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need to send them away. You give them something to eat.”
17They replied, “We have nothing here except five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them and broke the loaves apart and gave them to his disciples. Then the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20Everyone ate until they were full, and they filled twelve baskets with the leftovers. 21About five thousand men plus women and children had eaten.
Walking on the water
22Right then, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead to the other side of the lake while he dismissed the crowds. 23When he sent them away, he went up onto a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came and he was alone. 24Meanwhile, the boat, fighting a strong headwind, was being battered by the waves and was already far away from land. 25Very early in the morning he came to his disciples, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” They were so frightened they screamed.
27Just then Jesus spoke to them, “Be encouraged! It’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28Peter replied, “Lord, if it’s you, order me to come to you on the water.”
29And Jesus said, “Come.”
Then Peter got out of the boat and was walking on the water toward Jesus. 30But when Peter saw the strong wind, he became frightened. As he began to sink, he shouted, “Lord, rescue me!”
31Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him, saying, “You man of weak faith! Why did you begin to have doubts?” 32When they got into the boat, the wind settled down.
33Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus and said, “You must be God’s Son!”
Healing the sick
34When they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret. 35When the people who lived in that place recognized him, they sent word throughout that whole region, and they brought to him everyone who was sick. 36Then they begged him that they might just touch the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched him was cured.
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2011 Common English Bible. All rights reserved.
Matthew 14
14
John the Baptist beheaded
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’
3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4for John had been saying to him: ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ 5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.
6On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist.’ 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
Jesus feeds the five thousand
13When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed those who were ill.
15As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’
16Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’
17‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered.
18 ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. 19And he told the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus walks on the water
22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
25Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear.
27But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’
28‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’
29 ‘Come,’ he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’
32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’
34When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him 36and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.
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