Matthew 14 - Prayer Tents

The Death of John the Baptist

14When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee

, heard about Jesus,G1722G1565G2540G2264G5076G191G189G24242he said to his advisers, "This must be John the Baptist raised from the dead! That is why he can do such miracles."G2532G2036G846G3816G3778G2076G2491G910G846G1453G575G3498G2532G1223G5124G1411G1754G1722G8463For Herod had arrested and imprisoned John as a favor to his wife Herodias

.G1063G2264G2902G2491G1210G846G2532G5087G1722G5438G1223G2266G1223G846G80G5376G11354John had been telling Herod, "It is against God's law for you to marry her."G1063G2491G3004G846G1832G3756G1832G4671G2192G8465Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of a riot, because all the people believed John was a prophet.G2532G2309G615G846G615G5399G3793G3754G2192G846G5613G43966But at a birthday party for Herod, Herodias's daughter performed a dance that greatly pleased him,G1161G2264G1077G71G2364G2266G3738G1722G3319G2532G700G22647so he promised with a vow to give her anything she wanted.G3606G3670G3326G3727G1325G846G3739G1437G1548At her mother's urging, the girl said, "I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!"G1161G4264G5259G846G3384G5346G1325G3427G5602G2491G910G2776G1909G40949Then the king regretted what he had said; but because of the vow he had made in front of his guests, he issued the necessary orders.G2532G935G3076G1161G1223G3727G2532G4873G2753G132510So John was beheaded in the prison,G2532G3992G607G2491G1722G543811and his head was brought on a tray and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.G2532G846G2776G5342G1909G4094G2532G1325G2877G2532G5342G846G338412Later, John's disciples came for his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus what had happened.G2532G846G3101G4334G142G4983G2532G2290G846G2532G2064G518G2424

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

13As soon as Jesus heard the news, he left in a boat to a remote area to be alone. But the crowds heard where he was headed and followed on foot from many towns.G2532G2424G191G402G1564G1722G4143G1519G2048G5117G2596G2398G2532G3793G191G190G846G3979G575G417214Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.G2532G2424G1831G1492G4183G3793G2532G4697G1909G846G2532G2323G846G73215That evening the disciples came to him and said, "This is a remote place, and it's already getting late. Send the crowds away so they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves."G1161G1096G3798G846G3101G4334G846G3004G2076G2048G5117G2532G5610G2235G3928G630G3793G630G2443G565G1519G2968G59G1438G103316But Jesus said, "That isn't necessary—you feed them."G1161G2424G2036G846G5532G3756G565G2192G1325G5210G846G531517"But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!" they answered.G1161G3004G846G2192G5602G3756G1508G4002G740G2532G1417G248618"Bring them here," he said.G1161G2036G5342G846G5602G342719Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he gave the bread to the disciples, who distributed it to the people.G2532G2753G3793G347G1909G5528G2532G2983G4002G740G2532G1417G2486G308G1519G3772G2127G2532G2806G1325G740G3101G1161G3101G379320They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.G2532G5315G3956G5315G2532G5526G2532G142G2801G4052G1427G2894G413421About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!G1161G2068G2258G5616G4000G435G5565G1135G2532G3813

Jesus Walks on Water

22Immediately after this, Jesus insisted that his disciples get back into the boat and cross to the other side of the lake, while he sent the people home.G2532G2112G2424G315G846G3101G1684G1519G4143G2532G4254G846G1519G4008G2193G3739G630G3793G63023After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.G2532G630G3793G630G305G1519G3735G2596G2398G4336G1161G3798G1096G2258G1563G344124Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble far away from land, for a strong wind had risen, and they were fighting heavy waves.G1161G4143G2258G2235G3319G2281G928G5259G2949G1063G417G2258G172725About three o'clock in the morning

Jesus came toward them, walking on the water.G1161G5067G5438G3571G2424G565G4314G846G4043G1909G228126When the disciples saw him walking on the water, they were terrified. In their fear, they cried out, "It's a ghost!"G2532G3101G1492G846G4043G1909G2281G5015G3004G3754G2076G5326G2532G2896G575G540127But Jesus spoke to them at once. "Don't be afraid," he said. "Take courage. I am here!

"G1161G2112G2424G2980G846G3004G2293G1510G1473G5399G3361G539928Then Peter called to him, "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water."G1161G4074G611G846G2036G2962G1487G1488G4771G2753G3165G2064G4314G4571G1909G520429"Yes, come," Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.G1161G2036G2064G2532G4074G2597G575G4143G4043G1909G5204G2064G4314G242430But when he saw the strong

wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. "Save me, Lord!" he shouted.G1161G991G417G2478G5399G2532G756G2670G2896G3004G2962G4982G316531Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. "You have so little faith," Jesus said. "Why did you doubt me?"G1161G2112G2424G1614G5495G1949G846G2532G3004G846G3640G1519G5101G136532When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped.G2532G846G1684G1519G4143G417G286933Then the disciples worshiped him. "You really are the Son of God!" they exclaimed.G1161G1722G4143G2064G4352G846G3004G230G1488G5207G231634After they had crossed the lake, they landed at Gennesaret.G2532G1276G2064G1519G1093G108235When the people recognized Jesus, the news of his arrival spread quickly throughout the whole area, and soon people were bringing all their sick to be healed.G2532G435G1565G5117G1921G846G649G1519G3650G1565G4066G2532G4374G846G3956G2192G256036They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.G2532G3870G846G2443G680G3440G680G2899G846G2440G2532G3745G680G1295