6:21 But 11 a suitable day 12 came, when Herod gave a banquet on his birthday for his court officials, military commanders, and leaders of Galilee. 6:22 When his daughter Herodias 13 came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his dinner guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you want and I will give it to you.” 6:23 He swore to her, 14 “Whatever you ask I will give you, up to half my kingdom.” 15 6:24 So 16 she went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” Her mother 17 said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 18 6:25 Immediately she hurried back to the king and made her request: 19 “I want the head of John the Baptist on a platter immediately.” 6:26 Although it grieved the king deeply, 20 he did not want to reject her request because of his oath and his guests. 6:27 So 21 the king sent an executioner at once to bring John’s 22 head, and he went and beheaded John in prison. 6:28 He brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 6:29 When John’s 23 disciples heard this, they came and took his body and placed it in a tomb.
6:30 Then 24 the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 6:31 He said to them, “Come with me privately to an isolated place and rest a while” (for many were coming and going, and there was no time to eat). 6:32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to some remote place. 6:33 But many saw them leaving and recognized them, and they hurried on foot 25 from all the towns 26 and arrived there ahead of them. 27 6:34 As Jesus 28 came ashore 29 he saw the large crowd and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So 30 he taught them many things.
6:35 When it was already late, his disciples came to him and said, “This is an isolated place 31 and it is already very late. 6:36 Send them away so that they can go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy something for themselves to eat.” 6:37 But he answered them, 32 “You 33 give them something to eat.” And they said, “Should we go and buy bread for two hundred silver coins 34 and give it to them to eat?” 6:38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five – and two fish.” 6:39 Then he directed them all to sit down in groups on the green grass. 6:40 So they reclined in groups of hundreds and fifties. 6:41 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He 35 gave them to his 36 disciples to serve the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 6:42 They all ate and were satisfied, 6:43 and they picked up the broken pieces and fish that were left over, twelve baskets full. 6:44 Now 37 there were five thousand men 38 who ate the bread. 39
6:45 Immediately Jesus 40 made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dispersed the crowd. 6:46 After saying good-bye to them, he went to the mountain to pray. 6:47 When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea and he was alone on the land. 6:48 He 41 saw them straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. As the night was ending, 42 he came to them walking on the sea, 43 for 44 he wanted to pass by them. 45 6:49 When they saw him walking on the water 46 they thought he was a ghost. They 47 cried out, 6:50 for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them: 48 “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 6:51 Then he went up with them into the boat, and the wind ceased. They were completely astonished, 6:52 because they did not understand about the loaves, but their hearts were hardened.
6:53 After they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret 49 and anchored there. 6:54 As they got out of the boat, people immediately recognized Jesus. 50 6:55 They ran through that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever he was rumored to be. 51 6:56 And wherever he would go – into villages, towns, or countryside – they would place the sick in the marketplaces, and would ask him if 52 they could just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched it were healed.