14:1 It was around that time that Herod, ruler over one-fourth the country, heard reports about Jesus

14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Immerser, come back to life! That’s how he has these powers.”

14:3 Now Herod had arrested and jailed John on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

14:4 since John had said, “It’s illegal for you to have her.”

14:5 Herod wanted to have John killed, but he feared the crowd, since they considered him a prophet.

14:6 But at Herod’s birthday party, Herodias’ daughter danced for them. He was so pleased

14:7 that he promised, on oath, to give her anything she might ask for.

14:8 So, at the prompting of her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Immerser on a platter!”

14:9 The king was greatly disturbed, but because of his oaths and dinner guests, he gave the order,

14:10 and John was beheaded in the prison.

14:11 His head was put on a platter and carried to the young girl, who gave it to her mother.

14:12 Then John’s disciples came for his body and buried it, and then they told Jesus what happened.

14:13 Upon hearing this, Jesus went off alone by boat to a solitary place. But the crowd found out and followed on foot from all the cities.

14:14 And when Jesus came out of there he saw the large crowd and was moved with compassion for them, so he healed the chronically ill among them.

14:15 When it was late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place and the hour is getting late. Dismiss the crowd so they can go off to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

14:16 But Jesus said to them, “There’s no need for them to go; you feed them!”

14:17 “All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish!” they exclaimed.

14:18 “Bring them to me,” Jesus replied.

14:19 He ordered the crowd to recline on the grass for a meal. Then, taking the five loaves and two fish, he looked up to the sky and blessed them, then broke them up and gave them to his disciples. The disciples then passed them out to the crowd,

14:20 and they all ate until they were full; the leftovers filled twelve wicker baskets.

14:21 The number of men who had eaten was around five thousand, not counting the women and children.

14:22 Immediately Jesus had his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side of the lake, while he stayed and dismissed the crowd.

14:23 Having released them, he went up into the mountain alone to pray. It was late when he was there alone,

14:24 and by that time the boat had already gone far from land.

14:25 At about three in the morning Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.

14:26 And when his disciples saw him walking around on the water, they were very disturbed and shouted out in terror, “It’s a ghost!”

14:27 But right away Jesus said to them, “Have courage, it’s me! Don’t be afraid.”

14:28 Then Peter said to him, “Master, if it’s really you, command me to come to you on the water.”

14:29 “Come on!” replied Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water. He came near Jesus

14:30 but then got distracted by the strong wind. He became afraid and started to sink, so he called out to him, “Master, save me!”

14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out and grabbed Peter, and he said to him, “You skeptic! Why did you doubt?”

14:32 As soon as they got into the boat, the wind died down.

14:33 So they worshiped him and said, “Truly you are the God-Man!”

14:34 They crossed over and landed at Gennesaret.

14:35 And when the people there recognized him, they sent word throughout the whole area and brought him all the sick people.

14:36 They begged to be allowed to touch the hem of his cloak, and whoever did was restored to health.