Around that time, Herod the ruler heard the reports about Jesus.[1] 2 He said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist — he’s been raised from the dead, and that’s why these powers are at work in him.”
3 You see, Herod had seized John, tied him up, and thrown him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife.[2] 4 John had been telling him, “It’s not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid of the crowd, because they held John as a prophet.
6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in front of everyone, and she pleased Herod.[3] 7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist — right here on a platter.”
9 The king was upset, but because of his oaths and the guests reclining at the table with him, he ordered it given. 10 He sent men and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she carried it to her mother.
12 John’s disciples came and took the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard this, he left there by boat for a deserted place to be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When he came ashore, he saw a huge crowd. His heart went out to them, and he healed their sick.
15 As evening came, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it’s already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy themselves something to eat.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 They said to him, “We have nothing here except five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to me.”
19 He told the crowds to sit down on the grass. Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, blessed them, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples — and the disciples gave them to the crowds. 20 Everyone ate and was satisfied. They picked up the leftover broken pieces — twelve baskets full.[4] 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.
22 Right away Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 After he sent them away, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
24 By this time the boat was already a long way from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them. 25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them, walking on the sea.[5] 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and they screamed in fear.
27 But Jesus spoke to them at once: “Take heart — it’s me. Don’t be afraid.”
28 Peter answered him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 He said, “Come.”
Peter got out of the boat, walked on the water, and went toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid. He began to sink and cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and grabbed hold of him. He said to him, “You who have so little faith — why did you doubt?”
32 When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “You really are the Son of God.”
34 They crossed over and came to land at Gennesaret. 35 When the men of that place recognized him, they sent word throughout the whole region and brought all who were sick to him. 36 They begged him just to let them touch the tassel of his cloak — and everyone who touched it was saved.[6]
Notes
Note 1. This is Herod Antipas, whom his father’s will made tetrarch of Galilee and Perea (Josephus, Antiquities 17.8.1); the Greek title, tetrarchēs, means “ruler of a fourth,” though Matthew calls him “the king” in verse 9. ↩
Note 2. John’s objection rested on Jewish law: Leviticus 18:16 and 20:21 forbid a man from taking his brother’s wife. Herodias had first been married to a half-brother of Antipas; Josephus says Herodias “took upon her to confound the laws of our country” in marrying Antipas (Antiquities 18.5.4). ↩
Note 3. The Gospels never name her. The first-century historian Josephus names the daughter of Herodias as Salome (Antiquities 18.5.4), which is where the traditional name comes from. ↩
Note 4. The word here, kophinos, is a wicker basket; the Roman poet Juvenal twice pictures Jews with one (Satires 3.14, 6.542). ↩
Note 5. Romans divided the night into four watches of about three hours each; the fourth ran roughly from 3:00 to 6:00 a.m. ↩
Note 6. Kraspedon — the tassel, tzitzit in Hebrew, that Israelite men were commanded to wear on the corners of the outer garment (Numbers 15:37–41). ↩