Study Desk

^(F1)(C1)At that time ^(F2)(C2)Herod ^(F3)the tetrarch heard the news about Jesus,

and said to his servants, "^(C1)This is John the Baptist; he himself has been raised from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him."

For when ^(C1)Herod had John arrested, he bound him and put him ^(C2)in prison because of ^(C3)Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.

For John had been saying to him, "^(C1)It is not lawful for you to have her."

Although Herod wanted to put him to death, he feared the crowd, because they regarded ^(F1)John as ^(C1)a prophet.

But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of ^(C1)Herodias danced ^(F1)before them and pleased ^(C2)Herod,

so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked.

And after being prompted by her mother, she ^(*)said, "Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter."

And although he was grieved, the king commanded it to be given because of his oaths and ^(F1)his dinner guests.

He sent word and had John beheaded in the prison.

And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.

^(F1)John's disciples came and took away the body and buried ^(F2)it; and they went and reported to Jesus.

^(C1)Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; and when the ^(F1)people heard about this, they followed Him on foot from the cities.

When He came ^(F1)ashore, He ^(C1)saw a large crowd, and felt compassion for them and ^(C2)healed their sick.

Now when it was evening, the disciples came to Him and said, "This place is secluded and the hour is already past to eat; send the crowds away, so that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves."

But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go; you give them something to eat!"

They ^(*)said to Him, "We have nothing here except ^(C1)five loaves and two fish."

And He said, "Bring them here to Me."

And ordering the crowds to ^(F1)sit down on the grass, He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looked up toward heaven. He ^(C1)blessed the food and breaking the loaves, He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.

And they all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up what was left over of the broken pieces: twelve full ^(C1)baskets.

There were about five thousand men who ate, besides women and children.