1 AT that time Herod the Prince heard the reports about Jesus

2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has risen from the dead and so miraculous powers are working in him."

3 For Herod had arrested John and had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.

4 For John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."

5 Although he wished to kill him, he was afraid of the people because they held him for a prophet.

6 But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst and pleased Herod,

7 so that he promised with an oath that he would give her whatever she asked.

8 She, prompted by her mother, said, "Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist."

9 The king was grieved, but on account of his oaths and his guests he ordered it to be given her,

10 and he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.

11 The head was brought in on a platter and was given to the girl and she bore it to her mother.

12 The disciples of John came and took the body and buried it, and then they came and told Jesus.

13 Upon hearing of it, Jesus went away in a boat privately to an uninhabited place. But the people heard of it and followed him by land from the towns.

14 As he got out of the boat, he saw a great crowd and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

15 When evening had come on, his disciples came to him and said, "This is an uninhabited place and the time is already late; send away the crowd so that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."

16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. Give them food yourselves."

17 They said to him, "We have here nothing but five loaves and two fishes."

18 He said, "Bring them to me."

19 Then he commanded the crowd to recline on the grass, and he took the five loaves and the two fishes and looked up to heaven and asked a blessing. Then he broke up the loaves and gave them to his disciples, and the disciples distributed to the crowd.

20 All ate and had abundance, and they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that remained over.

21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

22 Then he made his disciples get into the boat and go on across while he was dismissing the crowd.

23 After dismissing the crowd, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray, When evening came, he was there alone.

24 The boat was already far out from land, beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them.

25 In the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking on the water.

26 When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified, saying that it was a ghost, and they cried out with fear.

27 But at once Jesus spoke to them and said, "Courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."

28 Peter answered, "Sir, if it is you, bid me to come to you on the water."

29 Jesus said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus.

30 But seeing the wind he became frightened, and, beginning to sink, he cried out, "Sir, save me!"

31 At once Jesus stretched out his hand and grasped him and said, "O man of little faith, why did you doubt?"

32 After they got into the boat, the wind stopped.

33 Then the men in the boat bowed down to him and said, "Truly you are the Son of God."

34 Having crossed, they came to land at Gennesaret.

35 When the men of that place recognized him, they sent into all that neighborhood and brought to him all the sick

36 and begged him that they might touch merely the tassel of his cloak, and all who touched were cured.