1 At that time, Herod the tetrarch heard the report concerning Jesus, 2 and said to his servants, “This is John the Baptiser. He is risen from the dead. That is why these powers work in him.” 3 For Herod had arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. 4 For John said to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 When he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced amongst them and pleased Herod. 7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she should ask. 8 She, being prompted by her mother, said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptiser.” 9 The king was grieved, 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 John 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, took the body, and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities. 14 Jesus went out, and he saw a great multitude. He had compassion on them and healed their sick. 15 When evening had come, his disciples came to him, saying, “This place is deserted, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves food.” 16 But Jesus said to them, “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” 17 They told him, “We only have here five loaves and two fish.” 18 He said, “Bring them here to me.” 19 He commanded the multitudes 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 disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 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 Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. 23 After he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into 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 sea, distressed by the waves, for the wind was contrary. 25 In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the sea. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It’s a ghost!” and they cried out for fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.” 28 Peter answered him and said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the waters.” 29 He said, “Come!” Peter stepped down from the boat and walked on the waters to come to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was strong, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus 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 ceased. 33 Those who were in the boat came and worshipped 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 recognised 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 fringe of his garment. As many as touched it were made whole.
Matthew · World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Matthew 14 World English Bible British Edition (with Deuterocanon)
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (1)
- "World English Bible" is a trademark of eBible.org; the text is shown unaltered.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Herodias
Previously the wife of Herod's brother Philip, whom Herod married, and for whom John the Baptist rebuked him; she bore a grudge against John and sought his death.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 14:3; Mark 6:17; Mark 6:19
Cross references (35)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Luke 3:1; Mark 8:15; Mark 6:14–29; Luke 9:7–9; Acts 4:27
- 2 John 10:41; Matthew 16:14; Mark 8:28; Matthew 11:11
- 3 Mark 6:17; Luke 3:19–20; Matthew 4:12; Mark 6:19; Matthew 11:2
- 4 Leviticus 20:21; Leviticus 18:16; Mark 6:18; Proverbs 28:1; Deuteronomy 25:5–6
- 5 Matthew 21:32; Matthew 11:9; Matthew 21:26; Mark 14:1–2; Mark 6:19–20
- 6 Mark 6:21–23; Hosea 1:5–6; Genesis 40:20; Matthew 22:24; Esther 1:2–12
- 7 Esther 5:6; Esther 5:3; Esther 7:2
- 8 Proverbs 29:10; Mark 6:24; 1 Kings 18:13; 2 Chronicles 22:2–3; 2 Kings 11:1
- 9 John 19:12–16; Mark 6:14; Mark 6:26; Ecclesiastes 5:2; Daniel 6:14–16
- 10 Revelation 11:7; Luke 9:9; Matthew 17:12; Mark 6:27–29; Jeremiah 2:30
- 11 Revelation 16:6; Revelation 17:6; Jeremiah 22:17; Ezekiel 19:2–3; Ezekiel 16:3–4
- 12 Acts 8:2; Matthew 27:58–61
- 13 Luke 9:10–17; Matthew 14:1–2; Mark 6:30–44; John 6:1–15; Matthew 12:15
- 14 Hebrews 4:15; Matthew 9:36; Hebrews 2:17; Matthew 15:32–39; John 11:33–35
- 15 Matthew 15:23; Mark 8:3; Mark 6:35–36; Luke 9:12
- 16 2 Kings 4:42–44; 2 Corinthians 8:2–3; Ecclesiastes 11:2; John 13:29; Proverbs 11:24
- 17 John 6:5–9; Matthew 15:33–34; Mark 6:37–38; Luke 9:13; Mark 8:4–5
- 19 Mark 8:6–7; 1 Samuel 9:13; Luke 24:30; 1 Timothy 4:4–5; Mark 6:41
- 20 Exodus 16:12; 1 Kings 17:12–16; Mark 6:42–44; Matthew 16:8–10; Exodus 16:8
- 21 Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 9:8–11; Acts 4:4; John 6:10; Acts 4:34
- 22 Mark 6:45–51; John 6:15–21; Matthew 15:39
- 23 Luke 6:12; Mark 6:46; Matthew 26:36; John 6:15–17; Matthew 6:6
- 24 Mark 6:48; John 6:18; Matthew 8:24; Isaiah 54:11
- 25 Job 9:8; John 6:19; Mark 6:48; Psalm 104:3; Matthew 24:43
- 26 Revelation 1:17; Luke 1:11–12; Mark 6:49–50; Daniel 10:6–12; Job 4:14–16
- 27 John 16:33; Revelation 1:17–18; Acts 23:11; Isaiah 41:10; Isaiah 41:4
- 28 John 6:68; Romans 12:3; Matthew 26:33–35; John 13:36–38; Matthew 19:27
- 29 Philippians 4:13; Mark 9:23; Acts 3:16; Luke 17:6; Mark 11:22–23
- 30 Lamentations 3:54–57; 2 Timothy 4:16–17; Mark 14:38; Matthew 8:24–25; Jonah 2:2–7
- 31 James 1:6–8; Psalm 138:7; Genesis 22:14; Matthew 8:26; Matthew 17:20
- 32 Psalm 107:29–30; Mark 4:41; Mark 6:51; John 6:21
- 33 Psalm 2:7; John 11:27; Romans 1:4; John 1:49; Mark 1:1
- 34 Mark 6:53–56; Luke 5:1; John 6:24–25
- 35 Matthew 4:24–25; Mark 2:1–12; Mark 3:8–10; Mark 6:55; Mark 1:28–34
- 36 Luke 6:19; Acts 19:11–12; Matthew 9:20–21; Acts 3:16; Mark 3:10
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The lesson of the Gospel which we have just heard is a lesson of humility to us all, that we may see and know where we are, and whither we must tend and hasten. For that ship which carries the disciples, which was tossed in the waves by a contrary wind, is not without its meaning.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
See Him on every occasion "departing," For not by His appearance only, but by His actions He would have this confirmed, because He knew the devil's craft, and that he would leave nothing undone to destroy this doctrine.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)
Soter is a name of five letters; Pater, too, contains five letters; Agape (love), too, consists of five letters; and our Lord, after blessing the five loaves, fed with them five thousand men.
Nevertheless after He was come up into the ship, they who were being borne in her, came saying, "Of a truth Thou art the Son of God." But before this plain discovery of Himself they were troubled, saying, "It is a phantom." But He coming up into the ship took away the fluctuation of mind from their hearts, when they …
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
"At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus." For Herod the king, this man's father, he that slew the children, was dead.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 10 (1888)