1At that time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus. 2And he said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works shew forth themselves in him. 3For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison, because of Herodias, his brother's wife. 4For John said to him: It is not lawful for thee to have her. 5And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people: because they esteemed him as a prophet. 6But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod. 7Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatsoever she would ask of him. 8But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist. 9And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given. 10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. 11And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother. 12And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came and told Jesus. 13Which when Jesus had heard, he retired from thence by a boat, into a desert place apart, and the multitudes having heard of it, followed him on foot out of the cities. 14And he coming forth saw a great multitude, and had compassion on them, and healed their sick. 15And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying: This is a desert place, and the hour is now passed: send away the multitudes, that going into the towns, they may buy themselves victuals. 16But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give you them to eat. 17They answered him: We have not here, but five loaves, and two fishes. 18Who said to them: Bring them hither to me. 19And when he had commanded the multitude to sit down upon the grass, he 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 multitudes. 20And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up what remained, twelve full baskets of fragments. 21And the number of them that did eat, was five thousand men, besides women and children. 22And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people. 23And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. 24But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. 25And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. 26And they seeing him walking upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear. 27And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not. 28And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters. 29And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat walked upon the water to come to Jesus. 30But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. 31And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? 32And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased. 33And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God. 34And having passed the water, they came into the country of Genesar. 35And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent into all that country, and brought to him all that were diseased. 36And they besought him that they might touch but the hem of his garment. And as many as touched, were made whole.
Challoner’s argument, 1750
Herod puts John to death. Christ feeds five thousand in the desert. He walks upon the sea, and heals all the diseased with the touch of his garment.
Found outside this book
- Herod Antipastetrarch of Galilee and Perea4 BC – AD 39
- John the Baptistnamed by Josephus, who says Antipas killed himd. c. AD 29–30
Notes
- Josephus tells the same story of John and Antipas, and gives a different motive: that Antipas feared his influence over the crowds. He places the execution at the fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, which the gospel does not name.
What the Fathers said
Chrysostom preached straight through this gospel at Antioch in the 380s. These are his, in full, in the Oxford translation.
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- Homily 50 · on Matthew 14:23, 24 "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into the mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in…