Matthew 14

1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Joshua, 2 and said to his servants, “This is Johanan the Immerser. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” 3 For Herod had laid hold of Johanan, and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. 4 Because Johanan had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, Herodias’s daughter danced among them and pleased Herod. 7 So he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked for. 8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of Johanan the Immerser.”

9 The king was upset, but for the sake of his oaths, and of those who sat at the table with him, he commanded it to be given, 10 and he sent and beheaded Johanan in the prison. 11 His head was brought on a platter, and given to the young lady, and she brought it to her mother. 12 His disciples came, and took the body, and buried it; and they went and told Joshua. 13 Now when Joshua heard this, He departed from there in a boat, to an uninhabited place by Himself. When the crowds heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

14 Joshua went out, and He saw a large crowd. He had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15 When evening had come, His disciples came to Him, saying, “The place is uninhabited, and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages to buy food for themselves.”

16 But Joshua said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

17 They told Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 He instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass; and He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed, broke and gave the loaves to the apprentices, and the apprentices gave to the crowds. 20 They all ate, and were filled. They took up twelve baskets full of that which remained left over from the broken pieces. 21 Those who ate were about five thousand men, in addition to women and children.

22 Immediately Joshua made the apprentices get into the boat, and to go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23 After He had sent the crowds away, He went up onto the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening had come, He was there alone. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the lake, troubled by the waves, because the wind was against it. 25 In the fourth guard shift of the night, Joshua came to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the apprentices saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, saying, “It’s an appearance!” And they screamed in fear. 27 But immediately Joshua spoke to them, saying, “Calm down. It’s me! Don’t be afraid.”

28 Peter answered Him and said, “Master, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

29 He said,“Come!”

Peter stepped down from the boat, and walked on the water to come to Joshua. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Master, save me!”

31 Immediately Joshua stretched out His hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 When they got up into the boat, the wind stopped. 33 Those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “You are truly the Son of God!”

34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret. 35 When the people of that place recognized Him, they sent into all that surrounding region, and brought to Him all who were sick; 36 and they begged Him that they might just touch the tassel on His garment. As many as touched it were cured.