1Quando o governador Herodes ouviu falar da fama de Jesus,2disse aos seus homens: “Deve ser João Batista que voltou à vida; por isso, faz tais milagres.”3Com efeito, Herodes tinha prendido João, acorrentando-o no cárcere, por causa de Herodíade, que era mulher de seu irmão Filipe.4Visto que João lhe dizia com insistência: “Não te é lícito tomá-la por mulher.”5Por sua vontade, teria matado João, mas receava que houvesse tumultos, pois o povo inteiro tinha João na conta de profeta.6Todavia, numa festa de anos de Herodes, a filha de Herodíade agradou-lhe muito pela forma como dançou.7Então jurou dar-lhe o que ela quisesse.8A jovem, incitada pela mãe, pediu: “Dá-me a cabeça de João Batista numa bandeja!”9O rei ficou triste com o pedido mas, comprometido pelo juramento feito diante dos convidados, ordenou que lhe fosse dado o que ela pedira.10Assim João foi degolado no cárcere;11a sua cabeça foi trazida numa bandeja e entregue à jovem, que a levou à mãe.12Os discípulos de João foram buscar o corpo e sepultaram-no, contando a Jesus o sucedido.
Jesus alimenta 5000 homens
13Depois de ter recebido a notícia, Jesus saiu sozinho num barco para uma região deserta, a fim de ficar a sós. O povo, vendo para onde se tinha dirigido, seguiu-o por terra, vindo de muitas vilas.14Quando Jesus saiu do barco, já lá se encontrava uma enorme multidão; teve compaixão deles e curou os que estavam doentes.15Ao cair da tarde, os discípulos foram ter com ele e disseram-lhe: “Este lugar é deserto e a hora já vai avançada. Manda o povo retirar-se, para ir às aldeias comprar o que comer.”16Jesus, porém, respondeu: “Não é preciso serem eles a ir. Deem-lhes vocês de comer!”17E disseram: “Mas como? Temos só cinco pães e dois peixes!”18Ao que respondeu: “Tragam-mos aqui!”19Então mandou o povo sentar-se sobre a erva e, tomando os cinco pães e os dois peixes, ergueu os olhos para o céu e abençoou-os. Depois, partiu os pães em pedaços e deu-os aos discípulos, para que os levassem à multidão.20Todos comeram até ficar satisfeitos. E quando as sobras foram recolhidas enchiam doze cestos.21Nesse dia, a multidão era de uns 5000 homens, não falando em mulheres e crianças.
Jesus anda sobre a água
22Logo a seguir, Jesus mandou os discípulos voltar para o barco e partir à sua frente para a outra margem do lago, enquanto ele tratava de mandar as multidões embora.23Depois subiu à montanha para orar a sós. Caiu a noite e ele ainda ali se encontrava sozinho.24No lago, o barco já se tinha afastado muito da terra e passava dificuldades por causa das ondas, pois o vento soprava em sentido contrário.25Por volta das quatro horas da madrugada, Jesus foi ter com eles, a caminhar sobre a água.26Os discípulos, ao verem-no caminhar sobre a água, ficaram assustados, dizendo ser um fantasma. E gritaram com medo.27Imediatamente Jesus lhes disse: “Está tudo bem, sou eu, não tenham medo!”28Então Pedro gritou-lhe: “Senhor, se realmente és tu, manda-me ir ter contigo caminhando sobre a água.”29Jesus disse-lhe: “Vem!” Pedro saiu do barco e caminhou por cima da água em direção a Jesus.30Mas, ao olhar em torno de si sentindo o vento forte, ficou apavorado e começou a afundar-se. “Senhor, salva-me!”31Jesus estendeu-lhe logo a mão e socorreu-o: “Homem de pequena fé, porque duvidaste?”32Quando subiram para o barco, o vento cessou.33Os outros prostraram-se diante de Jesus, dizendo: “És realmente o Filho de Deus!”
Jesus cura doentes em Genezaré
34Quando chegaram a Genezaré, do outro lado do lago,35os habitantes daquela terra reconheceram-no, espalharam a notícia da sua chegada por toda a região e trouxeram-lhe todos os doentes.36Estes pediam-lhe que os deixasse tocar nem que fosse na borda da sua roupa. E todos os que lhe tocavam ficavam curados.
1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, (Mc 6:14; Lc 3:1; Lc 9:7; At 13:1)2and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” (Mt 16:14)3For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,[1] (Mt 11:2; Lc 3:19; Jo 3:24)4because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (Lv 18:16; Lv 20:21)5And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. (Mt 11:9; Mt 21:26; Mt 21:46)6But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, (Gn 40:20)7so 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.”9And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given.10He sent and had John beheaded in the prison,11and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.12And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus. (Mt 9:14)
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
13Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. (Mt 15:32; Mt 16:9; Mc 6:32; Mc 8:2; Lc 9:10; Jo 6:1)14When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. (Mt 9:36)15Now when it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves.” (Mt 14:22; Mt 15:23)16But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” (2 Rs 4:42)17They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.”18And he said, “Bring them here to me.”19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass, and taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (1 Sm 9:13; Mt 26:26; Mc 7:34; Mc 8:7; Mc 14:22; Lc 24:30; Jo 11:41; Jo 17:1; 1 Co 14:16)20And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over.21And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
22Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. (Mt 8:18; Mc 6:45; Jo 6:15)23And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, (Mc 1:35; Mc 13:35; Lc 5:16; Lc 6:12; Lc 9:28)24but the boat by this time was a long way[2] from the land,[3] beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.25And in the fourth watch of the night[4] he came to them, walking on the sea. (Mt 14:22)26But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. (Lc 24:37)27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” (Dt 31:6; Is 41:13; Is 43:1; Mt 17:7; Jo 16:33)28And Peter 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 and walked on the water and came to Jesus. (Jo 21:7)30But when he saw the wind,[5] he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” (Mt 8:25)31Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Mt 6:30; Tg 1:6)32And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. (Mt 14:30)33And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” (Sl 2:7; Mt 3:17; Mt 8:2; Mt 14:22; Mt 16:16; Mt 26:63; Mc 1:1; Lc 1:35; Lc 4:41; Jo 1:49; Jo 6:14; Jo 10:36; Jo 11:27; Jo 20:31)
Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret
34And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. (Mc 6:53; Lc 5:1; Jo 6:24)35And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick (Mt 4:24)36and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well. (Mt 9:20; Mc 3:10; Lc 6:19; At 5:15)