1At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard reports about Jesus,
2and he said to his servants, “This must be John the Baptizer! He has come back to life from the dead. That’s why he can do these powerful things.”
3Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and thrown him into prison because of Herodias, the wife of Herod’s brother Philip.
4John had told Herod, “It is not right for you to have her.”
5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the crowd because they believed John was a prophet.
6But on Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for them, and Herod was very pleased.
7So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for.
8Her mother secretly told her what to ask for, and she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter right now.”
9The king was saddened, but because of his promise and in front of the guests at the table, he ordered it to be done.
10So he sent someone to behead John in the prison.
11John’s head was brought on a platter and given to the young woman, and she took it to her mother.
12John’s disciples came, took his body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13When Jesus heard about this, he left there by boat to go to a secluded, deserted place by himself. When the crowds heard about it, they followed him on foot from the towns.
14When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He felt compassion for them and healed their sick.
15When evening came, his disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and it’s already late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16But Jesus said to them, "They don't need to leave. You give them something to eat."
17They told him, "We only have five loaves of bread and two fish here."
18He said, "Bring them here to me."
19He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks. He broke the bread and gave it to the disciples, and the disciples gave it to the crowds.
20Everyone ate until they were full. Afterwards, the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.
21About five thousand men ate, in addition to women and children.
22Immediately, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the crowds away.
23After he had sent the crowds away, he went up on a mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
24By this time, the boat was in the middle of the sea, being tossed by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.
25During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea.
26When his followers saw him walking on the sea, they were scared, saying, "It's a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.
27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Don't worry! It's me! Don't be afraid."
28Peter answered him and said, "Lord, if it's you, tell me to come to you on the water."
29He said, "Come!" Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the water to come to Jesus.
30But when he saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid. As he began to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand, grabbed him, and said to him, "You have so little faith, why did you doubt?"
32When they got into the boat, the wind stopped.
33Those who were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, "You are truly the Son of God!"
34When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
35When the people of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout that whole surrounding region and brought all who were sick to him;
36and they begged him that they might just touch the edge of his cloak. Everyone who touched it was healed.