Matthew 14
1At that time, Herod the Tetrarch heard the report about Jesus, 2and he said to his attendants, "This is John the Baptist! He has been raised from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him."
3For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison because of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4For John had been telling him, "It is not lawful for you to have her." 5Although Herod wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held John to be a prophet. 6But when Herod’s birthday celebration came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7so much so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8Prompted by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." 9The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he commanded it to be given. 10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison. 11His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12Then his disciples came, took the corpse, and buried it; and they went and told Jesus.
13When Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place privately. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When he went ashore, he saw a vast crowd; his heart went out to them with deep compassion, and he healed their sick. 15When evening came, the disciples approached him and said, "This is a desolate place and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go into the villages and buy provisions for themselves."
16But Jesus said to them, "They have no 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." 19Then he commanded the crowds to recline on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up toward heaven and pronounced a blessing. After breaking the loaves, he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over. 21Now those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22Immediately he compelled the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23After dismissing the crowds, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone. 24But the boat was by this time many stadia from the land, battered by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. 26When 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 courage; I am. Do not be afraid."
28Peter 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, walked on the water, and came toward Jesus. 30But seeing the strength of the wind, he became afraid, and starting to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!"
31Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, saying to him, "You of little faith, why did you waver?" 32When they got into the boat, the wind died down. 33And those in the boat bowed down before him, saying, "Truly you are God's Son."
34When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word into that whole surrounding region and brought to him all who were ill. 36They kept begging him that they might only touch the tassel of his garment; and as many as touched it were restored to health.