John the Baptist Beheaded

14 At that time(A) Herod the tetrarch(B) heard the report about Jesus. “This is John the Baptist!” he told his servants. “He has been raised from the dead, and that’s why supernatural powers are at work in him.”(C)

For Herod had arrested John, chained[a] him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(D) since John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful(E) for you to have her!” Though he wanted to kill him, he feared the crowd, since they regarded him as a prophet.(F)

But when Herod’s birthday celebration came, Herodias’s daughter danced before them[b] and pleased Herod. So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. And prompted by her mother, she answered, “Give me John the Baptist’s head here on a platter!” Although the king regretted it, he commanded that it be granted because of his oaths and his guests. 10 So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,[c] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

Feeding 5,000

13 When Jesus heard about it,(G) He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns. 14 As He stepped ashore,[d] He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.(H)

15 When evening came, the disciples(I) approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late.[e] Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”

16 “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”

17 “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.

18 “Bring them here to Me,” He said. 19 Then He commanded the crowds to sit down[f] on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.(J) 20 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!(K) 21 Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 14:3 Or bound
  2. Matthew 14:6 Lit danced in the middle
  3. Matthew 14:12 Other mss read body
  4. Matthew 14:14 Lit Coming out (of the boat)
  5. Matthew 14:15 Lit and the time (for the evening meal) has already passed
  6. Matthew 14:19 Lit to recline

John the Baptist Beheaded(A)

14 At that time Herod(B) the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus,(C) and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist;(D) 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(E) because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,(F) for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.”(G) Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered John a prophet.(H)

On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests 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 10 and had John beheaded(I) in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it.(J) Then they went and told Jesus.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand(K)(L)

13 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. 14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them(M) and healed their sick.(N)

15 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 they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”

16 Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 “We have here only five loaves(O) of bread and two fish,” they answered.

18 “Bring them here to me,” he said. 19 And he directed the people to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.(P) Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. 20 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. 21 The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.

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