1 Around that time, Herod, the regional governor over Galilee, heard the reports about Jesus. 2 “This man is John the Baptizer!” he said to his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why these miraculous powers are at work in him!” 3 Herod, you see, after ordering John’s arrest, had had him bound and placed in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John had repeatedly told him, “The Torah does not permit you to have her.” 5 Although Herod wanted to have him killed, he was afraid of the crowd, because they regarded John as a prophet. 6 But when this took place—Herod’s birthday celebration—Herodias’ daughter performed a dance in their midst and pleased Herod so much 7 that he publicly promised, with a solemn oath, to give her whatever she asked for. 8 Well, at the urging of her mother, the girl said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptizer.” 9 Although the governor was grieved at this, because of his oaths and his dinner guests he ordered that her request be granted. 10 He sent someone and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 The head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took the body away and entombed it. Then they went and told Jesus.

13 Now when Jesus heard the news, he withdrew from there by boat for a place out in the wilderness away from the crowds. Yet when the crowds heard about this, they followed him by land from the towns. 14 When he got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. His heart went out to them, and he healed their sick.

15 When it was evening, the disciples came up to him and said, “This place is way out in the wilderness, and it’s already getting late. Please dismiss the crowds so that they can go into the villages and buy some food for themselves.”

16 “They don’t need to go,” Jesus said to them. “ᵖYou give them something to eat.”

17 “But we don’t have anything here except five loaves of bread and two fish!” they replied.

18 “Bring them here to me,” Jesus said. 19 And after he directed the crowds to sit down on the grass and had taken the five small round loaves and the two cooked fish, he looked up into the sky and gave thanks. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples, in turn, gave them to the crowds. 20 They all ate as much as they wanted. Then the disciples received back from the people what was left of the broken pieces—twelve baskets full. 21 Now those who ate numbered about five thousand, not counting women and children. 22 Then without delay Jesus had the disciples get into the boat and start going on ahead of him to the other side of the lake, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after dismissing the crowds, he went up on the mountainside by himself to pray.

Now when it was evening, he was there alone.24 The boat, meanwhile, was already where? A good long way from the shore, being battered by the waves because the wind was against it. 25 Well, sometime between three and six in the morning, Jesus came 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. Scared to death, they began to scream.

27 “Take courage!” Jesus immediately said to them. “It’s me! Don’t be afraid!”

28 “Lord, if it’s really you,” Peter replied, “order me to come to you on the water!”

29 “Come!” Jesus said.

Then Peter, getting out of the boat, himself walked on the water! He started toward Jesus,30 but when he saw the wind he became afraid and, as he began sinking, shouted, “Lord, save me!”

31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed hold of Peter. “ˢYou of little faith,” Jesus said to him. “Why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind died down.

33 Then those in the boat fell down and worshiped him. “You are truly the very Son of God!” they said.

34 When they had crossed the lake, they came ashore at a fertile plain on the Sea of Galilee just southwest of Capernaum, called Gennesaret. 35 When the people of that place recognized him, they spread the news of his arrival throughout that whole surrounding region and brought to him all who were sick. 36 They kept pleading with him to let them simply touch the blue-threaded tassel of twisted cords on his cloak. And all who touched it were completely healed.