1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus
2and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.”
3Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife,
4because John had been telling him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.”
5Although Herod wanted to kill John, he was afraid of the people, because they regarded John as a prophet.
6On Herod’s birthday, however, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod
7so much that he promised with an oath to give to her whatever she asked.
8Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.”
9The king was grieved, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted
10and sent to have John beheaded in the prison.
11John’s head was brought in on a platter and presented to the girl, who carried it to her mother.
12Then John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. And they went and informed Jesus.
13When Jesus heard about John, He withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. But the crowds found out about it and followed Him on foot from the towns.
14When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
15When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, “This is a desolate place, and the hour is already late. Dismiss the crowds so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.”
16“They do not need to go away,” Jesus replied. “You give them something to eat.”
17“We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.
18“Bring them here to Me,” Jesus said.
19And He directed the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, He spoke a blessing. Then He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.
20They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.
21About five thousand men were fed, besides women and children.
