Study Desk

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.

So he sent orders and had John beheaded in the prison.

His head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother.

Then his disciples came, removed the corpse,^[c] buried it, and went and reported to Jesus.

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.

As He stepped ashore,^[d] He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.^(h)

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."

"They don't need to go away," Jesus told them. "You give them something to eat."

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

"Bring them here to Me," He said.

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)

Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!^(k)

Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.