Matthew 14

The AIT Bible

The Death of John the Baptist

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

2and he said to his servants, ‘This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead, and for this reason these miraculous powers are at work in him.’

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

4For John had been saying to him, ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’

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

6But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,

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

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

9And though the king was grieved, because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he commanded it to be given.

10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

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

12And his disciples came and took the body and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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

15When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds, so that they may 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 except five loaves and two fish.’

18He said, ‘Bring them here to me.’

19And he commanded the crowds to recline on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over.

21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Water

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

23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.

24But the boat was already a long way from the land, battered by the waves, for the wind was against them.

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

26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, ‘It is a ghost!’ And they cried out in fear.

27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart, it is I. Do not be afraid.’

28And Peter answered him, ‘Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.’

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

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

31And immediately Jesus, stretching out his hand, took hold of him and said to him, ‘O you of little faith, why did you doubt?’

32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.

33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’

Healings in Gennesaret

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

35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into all that surrounding region, and they brought to him all who were sick,

36and they begged him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

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