1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus.
2 And he said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead. That is why miraculous powers are working through him."
3 For Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of his brother Philip,
4 since John had told him, "You have no right to her."
5 He was anxious to kill him but he was afraid of the people, for they held John to be a prophet.
6 However, on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced in public to the delight of Herod;
7 whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatever she wanted.
8 And she, at the instigation of her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head this moment on a dish."
9 The king was sorry, but for the sake of his oath and his guests he ordered it to be given her;
10 he sent and had John beheaded in the prison,
11 his head was brought on a dish and given to the girl, and she took it to her mother.
12 His disciples came and removed the corpse and buried him; then they went and reported it to Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard it he withdrew by boat to a desert place in private; but the crowds heard of it and followed him on foot from the towns.
14 So when he disembarked he saw a large crowd, and out of pity for them he healed their sick folk.
15 When evening fell, the disciples came up to him and said, "It is a desert place and the day is now gone; send off the crowds to buy food for themselves in the villages."
18 He said, "Bring them here to me."
19 Then he ordered the crowds to recline on the grass, and after taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, blessed them, and after breaking the loaves handed them to the disciples, and the disciples handed them to the crowds.
20 They all ate and had enough; besides, they picked up the fragments left over and filled twelve baskets with them.
21 The men who ate numbered about five thousand, apart from the women and children.
22 Then he made the disciples embark in the boat and cross before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds;
23 after he had dismissed the crowds he went up the hill by himself to pray. When evening came he was there alone,
24 but the boat was now in the middle of the sea, buffeted by the waves (for the wind was against them).
25 In the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking on the sea,
26 but when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified; "It is a ghost," they said and shrieked for fear.
29 He said, "Come." Then Peter got out of the boat and walked over the water on his way to Jesus;
30 but when he saw the strength of the wind he was afraid and began to sink. "Lord," he shouted, "save me."