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Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,
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by some that Eli'jah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen.
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Herod said, "John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.
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On their return the apostles told him what they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a city called Beth-sa'ida.
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When the crowds learned it, they followed him; and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God, and cured those who had need of healing.
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Now the day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away, to go into the villages and country round about, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a lonely place."
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But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people."
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For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each."
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And they did so, and made them all sit down.
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And taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
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And all ate and were satisfied. And they took up what was left over, twelve baskets of broken pieces.
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Now it happened that as he was praying alone the disciples were with him; and he asked them, "Who do the people say that I am?"
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And they answered, "John the Baptist; but others say, Eli'jah; and others, that one of the old prophets has risen."
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And he said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" And Peter answered, "The Christ of God."
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But he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one,
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saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised."
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And he said to all, "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
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For whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake, he will save it.
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For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
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For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
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But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God."