Matthew 14:1-21

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

2“This is John the Baptist,” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why miraculous powers are at work in him.”

3For Herod had arrested John, chained him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,

4since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful for you to have her.”

5Though Herod wanted to kill John, he feared the crowd since they regarded John as a prophet.

6When Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them and pleased Herod.

7So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

8Prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter.”

9Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests.

10So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison.

11His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

12Then his disciples came, removed the corpse, buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

13When Jesus heard about it, he withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed him on foot from the towns.

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

15When evening came, the disciples approached him and said, “This place is deserted, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16“They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

17“But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to him.

18“Bring them here to me,” he said.

19Then he commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

20Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.

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