1 Quando o rei Herodes ouviu a fama de Jesus, disse aos seus homens: Este deve ser João Baptista, que voltou à vida. Por isso é que faz tais milagres.a3 Com efeito Herodes tinha prendido João, acorrentando-o no cárcere por causa de Herodias, que era mulher de seu irmão Filipe; visto que João tinha dito que não lhe era lícito tomá-la por mulher5 Por sua vontade, teria matado João, mas receava que houvesse tumultos, pois o povo inteiro tinha João na conta de profeta.6 Todavia, numa festa de anos de Herodes, a filha de Herodias deu-lhe grande agrado pela forma como dançou. Então jurou dar-lhe o que ela quisesse. Ouvindo isto, a jovem, incitada pela mãe, pediu a cabeça de João Baptista numa bandeja!´9 O rei ficou afligido, mas, por causa do juramento que fizera, não quis voltar com a palavra atrás na presença dos convidados, e deu as ordens necessárias.10 Assim João foi degolado no cárcere e a sua cabeça trazida numa bandeja e entregue à jovem, que a levou à mãe12 Os discípulos de João foram pedir o corpo e sepultaram-no, contando a Jesus o sucedido.13 Depois de ter recebido a notícia, Jesus saiu sozinho num barco para uma região deserta, a fim de ficar a sós. Mas o povo, vendo para onde ele se havia dirigido, seguiu-o por terra, vindo de muitas vilas14 Quando saiu do barco, Jesus viu aquela grande multidão à sua espera e, com dó deles, curou os que estavam doentes.15 Ao cair da tarde, os discípulos foram ter com ele e disseram-lhe: Já é tarde, e aqui neste local isolado não há nada que se coma; manda este povo retirar-se para que possa ir às povoações comprar alimento.16 Jesus, porém, respondeu: Não é preciso; alimentem-no vocês!17 Mas como? Temos só cinco pãezinhos e dois peixes!18 Tragam-me isso aqui, disse Jesus.19 Então mandou o povo sentar-se sobre a erva e, pegando nos cinco pães e dois peixes, levantou os olhos para o céu, pedindo a bênção de Deus para aquela refeição; depois partiu os pães e deu-os aos discípulos para que os levassem ao povo. Todos comeram até ficarem satisfeitos. Quando os restos foram recolhidos, as sobras enchiam doze cestos! Nesse dia, a multidão era de uns cinco mil homens, não falando em mulheres e crianças.22 Logo depois disto, disse aos discípulos que entrassem para o barco deles e atravessassem para a outra margem do lago, enquanto ele ficaria ali com o povo até que partissem para as suas casas. Feito isto, subiu à montanha para orar. Caiu a noite; mas no lago os discípulos tinham dificuldades, pois tinha-se levantado vento e o mar estava bravo.25 Cerca das quatro horas da madrugada, Jesus foi ter com eles, caminhando sobre a água! Assustados, puseram-se a gritar, julgando ser algum fantasma. Mas Jesus logo lhes falou e os acalmou: Não tenham medo!28 Então Pedro gritou-lhe: Senhor, se realmente és tu, manda-me ir ter contigo caminhando sobre a água.29 Vem, disse Jesus. Pedro saiu pela borda do barco e caminhou por cima da água em direcção a Jesus. Mas, olhando em torno, sentindo o vento forte, ficou apavorado e começou a afundar-se: Senhor, salva-me!31 Logo Jesus lhe estendeu a mão e o socorreu: Homem de pouca fé, porque duvidaste?32 Quando subiram para o barco, o vento cessou. Os outros ficaram cheios de espanto: Realmente, és o Filho de Deus!34 E aportaram a Genezaré. A notícia da sua chegada depressa se espalhou por todos os arredores, e em breve as pessoas estavam a trazer todos os seus doentes para serem curados. Os doentes pediam-lhe muito que os deixasse tocar nem que fosse na borda da sua roupa, e todos os que assim faziam ficavam bons.

1 At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,2 And said to his servants, This is John the Baptist; he hath risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.3 For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.4 For John had said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.5 And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.6 But when Herod's birth-day was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.7 Upon which he promised with an oath to give her whatever she would ask.8 And she, being before instructed by her mother, said, Give me here the head of John the Baptist in a dish.9 And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the sake of the oath, and of them who sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given her.10 And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.11 And his head was brought in a dish, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.12 And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.13 When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence in a boat, into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard of it, they followed him on foot out of the cities.14 And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion towards them, and he healed their sick.15 And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.16 But Jesus said to them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.17 And they say to him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.18 He said, Bring them hither to me.19 And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and broke, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.20 And they all ate, and were satisfied: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.21 And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.22 And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a boat, and to go before him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.23 And when he had sent the multitudes away, he ascended a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.24 But the boat was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is thou, bid me come to thee on the water.29 And he said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.30 But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.31 And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, Why didst thou doubt?32 And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased.33 Then they that were in the boat came and worshiped him, saying, In truth thou art the son of God.34 And when they had gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.35 And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all the surrounding country, and brought to him all that were diseased;36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were restored to health.