Matthew 14

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus.

2And he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead, and for that reason these powers are at work in him."

3For Herod had seized John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of Philip his brother.

4For John kept telling him, "You are not allowed to have her."

5And wanting to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet.

6But when Herod's birthday arrived, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased Herod.

7So he promised her with an oath to give whatever she might ask.

8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

9And the king was grieved, but because of the oaths and those dining with him, he commanded it to be given.

10And he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

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

12His disciples came and took the corpse away, buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

13When Jesus heard, he departed from there by boat to a deserted place alone, and the crowds, hearing it, followed him on foot from the cities.

14And coming out, he saw a large crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.

15When evening came, the disciples approached him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the time has already passed; dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."

16But Jesus said to them, “They have no need to go away; you feed them.”

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

18But he said, "Bring them here to me."

19And he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass, took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed and broke them, and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve full baskets of the leftover fragments.

21There were about five thousand men who ate, excluding women and children.

22Immediately he compelled the disciples to board the boat and go ahead of him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds.

23And after dismissing the crowds, he climbed the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was alone there.

24But the boat was already many stadia distant from the land, tormented by the waves, for the wind was contrary.

25And during the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea.

26But the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were terrified, saying, "It's a ghost!" and cried out in fear.

27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Take courage! It is I. Do not fear."

28Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.”

29So he said, "Come." Peter got down from the boat, walked on the waters, and came to Jesus.

30But seeing the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, grasped him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you waver?"

32And when they went up into the boat, the wind ceased.

33Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are God's Son."

34After crossing over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

35When the men of that place recognized him, they sent into all that surrounding region and brought to him all who were ill.

36And they pleaded with him that they might merely touch the border of his cloak, and everyone who touched it was completely healed.