Matthew 14
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about Jesus’ fame.
2 He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has been raised from the dead, and that is why these powers are at work in him.”
3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
4 For John kept saying to him, “You are not allowed to have her.”
5 Although Herod wanted to kill him, he was afraid of the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday was celebrated, Herodias’s daughter danced there in the middle and pleased Herod.
7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for.
8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here, on a platter, the head of John the Baptist.”
9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that it be given to her.
10 He sent word and had John beheaded in prison.
11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother.
12 John’s disciples came, took the body, and buried it; then they went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there by boat to a deserted place by himself. When the crowds heard, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14 When he came ashore, he saw a large crowd, had compassion on them, and healed their sick.
15 As evening came, the disciples went to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 They said, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to me.”
19 Then he told the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20 Everyone ate and was satisfied, and they gathered up twelve baskets full of the pieces left over.
21 Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
22 Immediately afterward, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away.
23 After sending the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
24 The boat was already many stadia from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against it.
25 In the fourth watch of the night, he came to them, walking on the sea.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified and said, “It’s a ghost!” And they cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately spoke to them: “Take courage! It is I; don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s you, command me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus.
30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid; and as he began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and caught him. He said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
33 Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
34 After crossing over, they came ashore at Gennesaret.
35 The men of that place recognized him and sent word throughout the whole surrounding region. They brought him all who were sick.
36 They begged him to let them touch just the fringe of his garment, and all who touched it were healed.
Read and listen to this chapter in the Shalem app, free: narration, chapter video and reading progress. Get the app