GOD'S WORD Translation GW
New King James Version NKJV
1 At that time Herod, ruler of Galilee, heard the news about Jesus.
1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the report about Jesus
2 He said to his officials, "This is John the Baptizer! He has come back to life. That's why he has the power to perform these miracles."
2 and said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead, and therefore these powers are at work in him."
3 Herod had arrested John, tied him up, and put him in prison. Herod did this for Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip.
3 For Herod had laid hold of John and bound him, and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
4 John had been telling Herod, "It's not right for you to be married to her."
4 Because John had said to him, "It is not lawful for you to have her."
5 So Herod wanted to kill John. However, he was afraid of the people because they thought John was a prophet.
5 And although he wanted to put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 When Herod celebrated his birthday, Herodias' daughter danced for his guests. Herod was so delighted with her that
6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod.
7 he swore he would give her anything she wanted.
7 Therefore he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8 Urged by her mother, she said, "Give me the head of John the Baptizer on a platter."
8 So she, having been prompted by her mother, said, "Give me John the Baptist's head here on a platter."
9 The king regretted his promise. But because of his oath and his guests, he ordered that her wish be granted.
9 And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her.
10 He had John's head cut off in prison.
10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.
11 So the head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, who took it to her mother.
11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother.
12 John's disciples came for the body and buried it. Then they went to tell Jesus.
12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus heard about John, he left in a boat and went to a place where he could be alone. The crowds heard about this and followed him on foot from the cities.
13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw a large crowd. He felt sorry for them and cured their sick people.
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
15 In the evening the disciples came to him. They said, "No one lives around here, and it's already late. Send the crowds to the villages to buy food for themselves."
15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, "This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food."
16 Jesus said to them, "They don't need to go away. You give them something to eat."
16 But Jesus said to them, "They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat."
17 They told him, "All we have here are five loaves of bread and two fish."
17 And they said to Him, "We have here only five loaves and two fish."
18 Jesus said, "Bring them to me."
18 He said, "Bring them here to Me."
19 Then he ordered the people to sit down on the grass. After he took the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed the food. He broke the loaves apart, gave them to the disciples, and they gave them to the people.
19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20 All of them ate as much as they wanted. When they picked up the leftover pieces, they filled twelve baskets.
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 About five thousand men had eaten. (This number does not include the women and children who had eaten.)
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 Jesus quickly made his disciples get into a boat and cross to the other side ahead of him while he sent the people away.
22 Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away.
23 After sending the people away, he went up a mountain to pray by himself. When evening came, he was there alone.
23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
24 The boat, now hundreds of yards from shore, was being thrown around by the waves because it was going against the wind.
24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 Between three and six o'clock in the morning, he came to them. He was walking on the sea.
25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea.
26 When the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified. They said, "It's a ghost!" and began to scream because they were afraid.
26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, "It is a ghost!" And they cried out for fear.
27 Immediately, Jesus said, "Calm down! It's me. Don't be afraid!"
27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, "Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid."
28 Peter answered, "Lord, if it is you, order me to come to you on the water."
28 And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."
29 Jesus said, "Come!" So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.
29 So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.
30 But when he noticed how strong the wind was, he became afraid and started to sink. He shouted, "Lord, save me!"
30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"
31 Immediately, Jesus reached out, caught hold of him, and said, "You have so little faith! Why did you doubt?"
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"
32 When they got into the boat, the wind stopped blowing.
32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.
33 The men in the boat bowed down in front of Jesus and said, "You are truly the Son of God."
33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, "Truly You are the Son of God."
34 They crossed the sea and landed at Gennesaret.
34 When they had crossed over, they came to the land of Gennesaret.
35 The men there recognized Jesus and sent messengers all around the countryside. The people brought him everyone who was sick.
35 And when the men of that place recognized Him, they sent out into all that surrounding region, brought to Him all who were sick,
36 They begged him to let them touch just the edge of his clothes. Everyone who touched his clothes was made well.
36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.
GOD'S WORD® is a copyrighted work of God's Word to the Nations. Copyright © 1995 by God's Word to the Nations. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.