14:1 ①At that time ②Herod ③the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,
▷ ①Or On that occasion ②I.e., Herod Antipas ③I.e., a regional ruler
14:2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
14:3 For when Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
14:4 For John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
14:5 Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded ①John as a prophet.
▷ ①Lit him
14:6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced ①before them and pleased Herod,
▷ ①Lit in the midst
14:7 so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
14:8 And after being prompted by her mother, she *said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.”
14:9 And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and ①his dinner guests.
▷ ①Lit those who reclined at the table with him
14:10 He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison.
14:11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
14:12 ①John’s disciples came and took away the body and buried ②it; and they went and reported to Jesus.
▷ ①Lit his ②Lit him
14:13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the ①people heard about this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
▷ ①Lit the crowds
14:14 When He came ①ashore, He saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
▷ ①Lit out
14:15 Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, “This place is secluded and the hour is already past to eat; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
14:16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go; you give them something to eat!”
14:17 They *said to Him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”
14:18 And He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
14:19 And ordering the crowds to ①sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up toward heaven. He blessed the food and breaking the loaves, He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
▷ ①Lit recline
14:20 And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces: twelve full baskets.
14:21 There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.
14:22 Immediately afterward He compelled the disciples to get into the boat and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away.
14:23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
14:24 But the boat was already ①a long distance from the land, ②battered by the waves; for the wind was ③contrary.
▷ ①Lit many stadia from; a Roman stadion perhaps averaged 607 ft. or 185 m ②Lit tormented ③Or adverse
14:25 And in the ①fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea.
▷ ①I.e., 3-6 a.m.
14:26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out ①in fear.
▷ ①Lit from
14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, ①it is I; do not be afraid.”
▷ ①Lit I am
14:28 Peter responded and said to Him, “Lord, if ①it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”
▷ ①Lit You are
14:29 And He said, “Come!” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water, and came toward Jesus.
14:30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”
14:31 Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and *said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
14:32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
14:33 And those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly God’s Son!”
14:34 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret.
14:35 And when the men of that place ①recognized Him, they sent word into all that surrounding region and brought to Him all who were sick;
▷ ①Or found out about
14:36 and they pleaded with Him that they might just touch the ①border of His cloak; and all who touched it were cured.
▷ ①Or tassel; i.e., a ritual tassel sewn to corners of garments for Jewish men