Matthäus 14 | New International Reader’s Version

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.

English Standard Version

The Death of John the Baptist

1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and 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.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,* 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

13 Now 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. 14 When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 Now 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.” 16 But Jesus said, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” 17 They said to him, “We have only five loaves here and two fish.” 18 And he said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 Then 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. 20 And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. 21 And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Jesus Walks on the Water

22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way* from the land,* beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night* he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,* he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

Jesus Heals the Sick in Gennesaret

34 And when they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret. 35 And when the men of that place recognized him, they sent around to all that region and brought to him all who were sick 36 and implored him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment. And as many as touched it were made well.

Matthäus 14 | New International Reader’s Version English Standard Version