Matthew 14

1About that time Herod the ruler heard the reports about Jesus.

2Herod said to his servants: This is John the Baptist. He has come back from the dead, and that is why he has the power to do miracles.

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

4John had been telling Herod: It is not right for you to have her.

5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they believed John was a prophet.

6On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod.

7So Herod promised with an oath to give her anything she asked for.

8Her mother told her what to say, so she said: Give me right here the head of John the Baptist on a plate.

9The king was sad, but because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted.

10The king sent men to behead John in the prison.

11John's head was brought in on a plate and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

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

13When Jesus heard what had happened, He went away in a boat to a lonely place to be alone. But the crowds heard about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.

14When Jesus came ashore and saw the large crowd, He felt sorry for them and healed their sick.

15As evening came, His disciples came to Him and said: This is a lonely place, and it is already late. Send the people away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.

16Jesus replied: They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.

17They said to Him: All we have here is five loaves of bread and two fish.

18Jesus said: Bring them here to me.

19Jesus told 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. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.

20Everyone ate and was full, and the disciples picked up twelve small hand-baskets of leftover pieces.

21About five thousand men ate, besides women and children.

22Right away Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the people away.

23After Jesus had sent them away, He went up on a mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.

24By now the boat was far from land, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was against it.

25Some time before dawn, Jesus came to the disciples, walking on the water.

26When they saw Him walking on the water, they were terrified. They said: It is a ghost! And they cried out in fear.

27But right away Jesus said to them: Be brave! It is I. Do not be afraid.

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

29Jesus said: Come. So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30But when Peter saw the strong wind, he was afraid. As he began to sink, he cried out: Lord, save me!

31At once Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. He said: Your faith is so small. Why did you doubt?

32And when they climbed into the boat, the wind stopped.

33Then those in the boat worshiped Jesus, saying: You really are the Son of God.

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

35When the people there recognized Jesus, they sent word to the whole area around them, and the people brought Him all who were sick.

36They begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of His coat, and all who touched it were healed.