Matthew

At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,

1At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus. A tetrarch was a ruler over part of a region.

2And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.

2He said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist. He has come back from the dead. That is why he can do such powerful things."

3For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.

3Earlier, Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who was the wife of his brother Philip.

4For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.

4Herod had married her, and John kept telling him, "It is against God's law for you to have her."

5And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

5Herod wanted to put John to death, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, a man who spoke God's message.

6But when Herod’s birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.

6But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced in front of the guests, and Herod was very pleased.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.

7So he made her a promise, swearing an oath to give her anything she asked for.

8And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist’s head in a charger.

8Her mother had already told her what to say. So she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist right here on a platter."

NoteA "charger" in the KJV is not a horse or a weapon. It means a large flat dish, like a serving platter.

9And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath’s sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.

9The king was sorry he had promised. But because of his oath and the guests eating with him, he ordered that she be given what she asked.

10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

10He sent orders, and John was beheaded in the prison.

11And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.

11John's head was carried in on a platter and handed to the girl, and she took it to her mother.

12And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

12John's followers came and took his body away and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.

13When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.

13When Jesus heard the news, he left by boat to be alone in an empty place. But the crowds heard and followed him on foot from their towns.

Note"Desert place" does not mean a sandy desert. It means an empty, out-of-the-way spot with no towns nearby.

14And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

14When Jesus came ashore, he saw the huge crowd. He felt deep pity for them, and he healed the people who were sick.

15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.

15That evening his disciples came to him and said, "This place is empty and it is already late. Send the crowd away to buy food in the villages."

16But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat.

16But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."

17And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.

17They answered him, "All we have here is five loaves of bread and two fish."

18He said, Bring them hither to me.

18He said, "Bring them here to me."

19And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

19He told the crowd to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and gave thanks. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, who handed it to the people.

20And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.

20Everyone ate until they were full. Afterward the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of leftover pieces.

21And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.

21About five thousand men had eaten, and there were women and children besides them.

22And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.

22Right away Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side of the lake, while he sent the crowds home.

23And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

23After the crowds were gone, he went up on a mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was still there alone.

24But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.

24By then the boat was far out on the water, tossed about by the waves, because the wind was blowing against it.

25And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.

25In the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came to them, walking on the water.

NoteThe night was divided into four watches. The fourth watch was the last stretch before dawn, roughly three to six in the morning.

26And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.

26When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. "It's a ghost!" they said, and they cried out in fear.

27But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

27But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Be brave. It is I. Do not be afraid."

28And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.

28Peter answered him, "Lord, if it is really you, tell me to come to you on the water."

29And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.

29Jesus said, "Come." So Peter climbed out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

30But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.

30But when he saw how strong the wind was, he became afraid. He began to sink and cried out, "Lord, save me!"

31And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

31At once Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. He said, "You have so little faith. Why did you doubt?"

32And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.

32When they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.

33Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.

33Then the people in the boat bowed down before him and said, "You truly are the Son of God."

34And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.

34When they had crossed the lake, they landed in the area called Gennesaret.

35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;

35The men of that place recognized Jesus. They sent word all through the country around them, and people brought him everyone who was sick.

36And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.

36They begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his coat. Everyone who touched it was completely healed.