Matthew 14:22 | New International Version

New International Version

John the Baptist beheaded

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: ‘It is not lawful for you to have her.’ 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet. 6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, ‘Give me here on a dish the head of John the Baptist.’ 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a dish and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus feeds the five thousand

13 When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed those who were ill. 15 As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so that they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ 16 Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ 17 ‘We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. 18 ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. 19 And he told the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus walks on the water

22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23 After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, 24 and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ 28 ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ 29 ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’ 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘You of little faith,’ he said, ‘why did you doubt?’ 32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, ‘Truly you are the Son of God.’ 34 When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all who were ill to him 36 and begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.

New International Reader’s Version

from Biblica

John the Baptist’s head is cut off

1 At that time Herod, the ruler of Galilee and Perea, heard reports about Jesus. 2 He said to his attendants, ‘This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead! That is why he has the power to do miracles.’ 3 Herod had arrested John. He had tied him up and put him in prison because of Herodias. She was the wife of Herod’s brother Philip. 4 John had been saying to Herod, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her as your wife.’ 5 Herod wanted to kill John. But he was afraid of the people, because they thought John was a prophet. 6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for Herod and his guests. She pleased Herod very much. 7 So he promised to give her anything she asked for. 8 Her mother told her what to say. So the girl said to Herod, ‘Give me the head of John the Baptist on a big plate.’ 9 The king was very upset. But he thought of his promise and his dinner guests. So he told one of his men to give her what she asked for. 10 Herod had John’s head cut off in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a big plate and given to the girl. She then carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus feeds five thousand

13 Jesus heard what had happened to John. He wanted to be alone. So he went in a boat to a quiet place. The crowds heard about this. They followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus came ashore, he saw a large crowd. He felt deep concern for them. He healed their ill people. 15 When it was almost evening, the disciples came to him. ‘There is nothing here,’ they said. ‘It’s already getting late. Send the crowds away. They can go and buy some food in the villages.’ 16 Jesus replied, ‘They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.’ 17 ‘We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,’ they answered. 18 ‘Bring them here to me,’ he said. 19 Then Jesus instructed the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven and gave thanks. He broke the loaves into pieces. Then he gave them to the disciples. And the disciples gave them to the people. 20 All of them ate and were satisfied. The disciples picked up 12 baskets of leftover pieces. 21 The number of men who ate was about 5,000. Women and children also ate.

Jesus walks on the water

22 Right away Jesus made the disciples get into the boat. He had them go on ahead of him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. Then he sent the crowd away. 23 After he had sent them away, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone. 24 The boat was already a long way from land. It was being pounded by the waves because the wind was blowing against it. 25 Shortly before dawn, Jesus went out to the disciples. He walked on the lake. 26 They saw him walking on the lake and were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost!’ they said. And they cried out in fear. 27 Right away Jesus called out to them, ‘Be brave! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ 28 ‘Lord, is it you?’ Peter asked. ‘If it is, tell me to come to you on the water.’ 29 ‘Come’, Jesus said. So Peter got out of the boat. He walked on the water towards Jesus. 30 But when Peter saw the wind, he was afraid. He began to sink. He cried out, ‘Lord! Save me!’ 31 Right away Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ‘Your faith is so small!’ he said. ‘Why did you doubt me?’ 32 When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those in the boat worshipped Jesus. They said, ‘You really are the Son of God!’ 34 They crossed over the lake and landed at Gennesaret. 35 The men who lived there recognised Jesus. So they sent a message all over the nearby countryside. People brought all those who were ill to Jesus. 36 They begged him to let those who were ill just touch the edge of his clothes. And all who touched his clothes were healed.