- At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,
- 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.
- Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife,
- for John had been saying to him: It is not lawful for you to have her.
- Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet.
- On Herod's birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much
- that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.
- Prompted by her mother, she said, Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.
- The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted
- and had John beheaded in the prison.
- His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
- John's disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
- 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.
- When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.
- 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.
- Jesus replied, They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.
- We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish, they answered.
- Bring them here to me, he said.
- And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven,
- They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
- The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.
- Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd.
- After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone,
- but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.
- During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.
- When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. It's a ghost, they said, and cried out in fear.
- But Jesus immediately said to them: Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.
- Lord, if it's you, Peter replied, tell me to come to you on the water.
- Come, he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came towards Jesus.
- But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, Lord, save me!
- Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt?
- And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.
- Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.
- When they had crossed over, they landed at Gennesaret.
- And when the men of that place recognised Jesus, they sent word to all the surrounding country. People brought all their sick to him
- and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed.
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