1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus 2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptizer; he has been raised from the dead, and therefore the powers are at work in him.” 3For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife. 4For John would say to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5And although he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they counted him as a prophet. 6But while Herod's birthday was being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and she pleased Herod. 7So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8So she, having been prompted by her mother, she says, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer!” 9And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and those who were reclining at the table with him, he commanded it to be given. 10So 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. 12Then his disciples came forward and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.
Food for 15,000
13Upon hearing it, Jesus departed from there by boat to a deserted place privately. But when the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the towns. 14So when Jesus disembarked He saw a large crowd, and He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15Now with evening coming on His disciples approached Him saying: “The place is uninhabited and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” 16But Jesus said to them: “They do not need to go away. You give them to eat.” 17But they say to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.” 18So He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19Then He commanded the crowds to recline on the grass. And taking the five loaves and two fish and looking up to heaven, He blessed; and breaking the loaves He gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the crowds. 20So they all ate and were filled; and they took up the fragments that remained, twelve baskets full. 21Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Peter walks on water
22Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds. 23And having dismissed the crowds He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. So when night came He was alone there. 24But the boat was already in the middle of the sea, being harassed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25So in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they became agitated saying, “It's a ghost!” And they cried out for fear. 27But immediately Jesus spoke to them saying: “Courage! It is I; don't be afraid!” 28So in answer Peter said, “Lord, since it's you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29So He said to him, “Come!” And stepping down from the boat Peter walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30But seeing the strong wind he became afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out saying, “Lord, save me!” 31And immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him and says to him: “You little-faith! Why did you doubt?” 32And when they got into the boat the wind ceased. 33Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him saying, “Truly you are the Son of God!”
At Genesaret
34When they had crossed over they came to the land of Genesaret. 35And when the men of that place recognized Him they sent messengers into all that surrounding region and they brought to Him all who were sick. 36And they would beg Him that if only they might at least touch the hem of His garment; and as many as touched were completely healed.
Notes
*14:4The impression one gets is that John took Herod to task several times—a coward he was not.
†14:11What would seeing that head do to your appetite?
‡14:12The body was buried without the head—one wonders what became of it.
§14:13From Mark we learn that Jesus and the disciples were under heavy pressure from the crowds—no time even to eat. So when He hears of John's death, and under such ignominious circumstances, Jesus wants to get away so He can grieve and assimilate the news.
*14:14In Mark it is even clearer that the people ran along the shore and got to the destination first, before the boat (please see the note at Mark 6:34). Naturally the faster runners were there first, but others kept arriving so that in the end there were thousands of people. In the town there was not space for everybody to get to Jesus, but out in the open—so when the news got around people came from all over.
†14:16Really now, with what? Although Jesus had to take the initiative, the disciples did participate in the miracle.
‡14:21Since any large crowd is likely to have more women and children than men, there were probably at least 15,000 people there. “They were filled”—how much food does it take to ‘fill’ 15,000 hungry people? Notice the care not to waste anything—the fragments were collected.
§14:23Finally, Jesus manages to be alone, to think and pray.
*14:24Perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, read “many furlongs away from the land” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
†14:25The fourth watch, using Roman time, was from 3 to 6 a.m.—the disciples had had a rough night!
‡14:30Peter knew how to swim (John 21:7), but he was walking on top of the water (a totally new experience) and then he was wading; and the storm was scary.
§14:32Why did the wind cease? Was it a supernatural wind? If so, who caused it?
*14:33They took a lot of convincing, but are we not the same way?
†14:34The best line of transmission, along with the Targum, spells the place with one ‘n’; 70% of the Greek manuscripts follow the LXX in using two.
The impression one gets is that John took Herod to task several times—a coward he was not.
What would seeing that head do to your appetite?
The body was buried without the head—one wonders what became of it.
From Mark we learn that Jesus and the disciples were under heavy pressure from the crowds—no time even to eat. So when He hears of John's death, and under such ignominious circumstances, Jesus wants to get away so He can grieve and assimilate the news.
In Mark it is even clearer that the people ran along the shore and got to the destination first, before the boat (please see the note at Mark 6:34). Naturally the faster runners were there first, but others kept arriving so that in the end there were thousands of people. In the town there was not space for everybody to get to Jesus, but out in the open—so when the news got around people came from all over.
Really now, with what? Although Jesus had to take the initiative, the disciples did participate in the miracle.
Since any large crowd is likely to have more women and children than men, there were probably at least 15,000 people there. “They were filled”—how much food does it take to ‘fill’ 15,000 hungry people? Notice the care not to waste anything—the fragments were collected.
Finally, Jesus manages to be alone, to think and pray.
Perhaps 2% of the Greek manuscripts, of inferior quality, read “many furlongs away from the land” (as in NIV, NASB, LB, TEV, etc.).
The fourth watch, using Roman time, was from 3 to 6 a.m.—the disciples had had a rough night!
Peter knew how to swim (John 21:7), but he was walking on top of the water (a totally new experience) and then he was wading; and the storm was scary.
Why did the wind cease? Was it a supernatural wind? If so, who caused it?
They took a lot of convincing, but are we not the same way?
The best line of transmission, along with the Targum, spells the place with one ‘n’; 70% of the Greek manuscripts follow the LXX in using two.