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
The Death of John the Baptist
(Mk 6.14–29; Lk 9.7–9)
1At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee, heard about Jesus. 2“He is really John the Baptist, who has come back to life,” he told his officials. “That is why he has this power to perform miracles.”
3 #
Lk 3.19–20
For Herod had earlier ordered John's arrest, and he had him chained and put in prison. He had done this because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4#Lev 18.16; 20.21For some time John the Baptist had told Herod, “It isn't right for you to be married to Herodias!” 5Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the Jewish people, because they considered John to be a prophet.
6On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced in front of the whole group. Herod was so pleased 7that he promised her, “I swear that I will give you anything you ask for!”
8At her mother's suggestion she asked him, “Give me here and now the head of John the Baptist on a dish!”
9The king was sad, but because of the promise he had made in front of all his guests he gave orders that her wish be granted. 10So he had John beheaded in prison. 11The head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 12John's disciples came, carried away his body, and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
Jesus Feeds a Great Crowd
(Mk 6.30–44; Lk 9.10–17; Jn 6.1–14)
13When Jesus heard the news about John, he left there in a boat and went to a lonely place by himself. The people heard about it, so they left their towns and followed him by land. 14Jesus got out of the boat, and when he saw the large crowd, his heart was filled with pity for them, and he healed those who were ill.
15That evening his disciples came to him and said, “It is already very late, and this is a lonely place. Send the people away and let them go to the villages to buy food for themselves.”
16 “They don't have to leave,” answered Jesus. “You yourselves give them something to eat!”
17“All we have here are five loaves and two fish,” they replied.
18 “Then bring them here to me,” Jesus said. 19He ordered the people to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks to God. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20Everyone ate and had enough. Then the disciples took up twelve baskets full of what was left over. 21The number of men who ate was about 5,000, not counting the women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
(Mk 6.45–52; Jn 6.15–21)
22Then Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people away. 23After sending the people away, he went up a hill by himself to pray. When evening came, Jesus was there alone; 24and by this time the boat was far out in the lake, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.
25Between three and six o'clock in the morning Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water. 26When they saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. “It's a ghost!” they said, and screamed with fear.
27Jesus spoke to them at once. “Courage!” he said. “It is I. Don't be afraid!”
28Then Peter spoke up. “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.”
29 “Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. 30But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried.
31At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, “How little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”
32They both got into the boat, and the wind died down. 33Then the disciples in the boat worshipped Jesus. “Truly you are the Son of God!” they exclaimed.
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
(Mk 6.53–56)
34They crossed the lake and came to land at Gennesaret, 35where the people recognized Jesus. So they sent for the sick people in all the surrounding country and brought them to Jesus. 36They begged him to let those who were ill at least touch the edge of his cloak; and all who touched it were made well.
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Good News Bible. Scripture taken from the Good News Bible (r) (Today's English Version Second Edition, UK/British Edition). Copyright © 1992 British & Foreign Bible Society. Used by permission.