Matthew 14

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

1Around that time, Herod heard people talking about Jesus. Herod was a ruler over part of the land.

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 to life. 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. He tied him up and put him in prison. He did this because of Herodias, who had been the wife of his brother Philip.

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

4John kept telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to have her as your wife."

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

5Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people. They believed John was a prophet, someone who told people what God said.

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

6On Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. Herod was very pleased with her.

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

7So he made a strong promise. He said he would 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. She said, "Bring me John the Baptist's head here on a plate."

NoteThe old word "charger" 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 sad. But he had made his promise in front of his dinner guests. So he gave the order.

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

10He sent men to the prison, and they cut off John's head.

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

11His head was carried in on a plate and given to the girl. 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.

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 this, he got into a boat and went away to a quiet, empty place. But the people found out. They walked there from their towns to find him.

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

14Jesus stepped out of the boat and saw a huge crowd. He felt sorry 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 followers came to him. They said, "Nobody lives out here, and it is late. Send the people away to buy food in the villages."

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

16But Jesus said, "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 said to him, "All we have here is five loaves of bread and two fish."

18He said, Bring them hither to me.

18Jesus 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. He looked up to the sky and thanked God. Then he broke the bread and gave it to his followers, and they gave 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 all they wanted. The followers picked up the leftover pieces. They filled twelve baskets.

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

21About five thousand men ate that day. Women and children ate too.

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 told his followers to get into the boat. They were to go ahead of him to the other side. He stayed to send the crowd 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 people left, he went up a mountain by himself to pray. Evening came, and 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 now the boat was far out on the water. Waves tossed it around, because the wind was blowing against it.

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

25Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.

NoteThe night was split into four watches. The fourth watch was about 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 his followers saw him walking on the water, they were frightened. They said, "It is a ghost!" and they cried out in fear.

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

27Jesus spoke to them right away. He said, "Be brave. It is me. 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, "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. He 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.

30Then he saw how strong the wind was, and he was afraid. He started 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.

32They climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped blowing.

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

33The men in the boat worshipped Jesus. They said, "You really are the Son of God."

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

34When they had crossed the water, they came to land at a place 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 there knew who Jesus was. They sent word all around that part of the country. 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 made completely well.

NoteThe "hem" was the finished edge or fringe sewn along the bottom of his outer coat.