Matthew 14

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,

2and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.”

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

4John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”

5Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.

6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before 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 the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”

9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered it to be given to her.

10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

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

12John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But the crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the towns.

14When he came ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15When evening came, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17They said to him, “We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.”

18He said, “Bring them here to me.”

19He ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

21Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away.

23After he had sent the crowds away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

24By now the boat was many stadia away from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against it.

25In the fourth watch of the night Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea.

26When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It is a ghost!” they said, and they cried out in fear.

27But Jesus spoke to them at once: “Take heart! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

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

29He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.

30But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”

31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said to him, “why did you doubt?”

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

33Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

34When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.

35When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout all that surrounding region, and people brought to him all who were sick.

36They begged him to let them just touch the fringe of his cloak, and all who touched it were made well.