The Message Bible MSG
King James Version KJV
1 At about this time, Herod, the regional ruler, heard what was being said about Jesus.
1
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 He said to his servants, "This has to be John the Baptizer come back from the dead. That's why he's able to work miracles!"
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And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
3 Herod had arrested John, put him in chains, and sent him to prison to placate Herodias, his brother Philip's wife.
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For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
4 John had provoked Herod by naming his relationship with Herodias "adultery."
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For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 Herod wanted to kill him, but he was afraid because so many people revered John as a prophet of God.
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And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.
6 But at his birthday celebration, he got his chance. Herodias's daughter provided the entertainment, dancing for the guests. She swept Herod away.
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But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod.
7 In his drunken enthusiasm, he promised her on oath anything she wanted.
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Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask.
8 Already coached by her mother, she was ready: "Give me, served up on a platter, the head of John the Baptizer."
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And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger.
9 That sobered the king up fast. Unwilling to lose face with his guests, he did it
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And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded it to be given her.
10 - ordered John's head cut off
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And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.
11 and presented to the girl on a platter. She in turn gave it to her mother.
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And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought it to her mother.
12 Later, John's disciples got the body, gave it a reverent burial, and reported to Jesus.
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And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
13 When Jesus got the news, he slipped away by boat to an out-of-the-way place by himself. But unsuccessfully - someone saw him and the word got around. Soon a lot of people from the nearby villages walked around the lake to where he was.
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When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
14 When he saw them coming, he was overcome with pity and healed their sick.
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And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
15 Toward evening the disciples approached him. "We're out in the country and it's getting late. Dismiss the people so they can go to the villages and get some supper."
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And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
16 But Jesus said, "There is no need to dismiss them. You give them supper."
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But Jesus said unto them,They need not depart; give ye them to eat.
17 "All we have are five loaves of bread and two fish," they said.
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And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
18 Jesus said, "Bring them here."
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He said,Bring them hither to me.
19 Then he had the people sit on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread to the disciples. The disciples then gave the food to the congregation.
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And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and 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 multitude.
20 They all ate their fill. They gathered twelve baskets of leftovers.
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And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
21 About five thousand were fed.
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And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
22 As soon as the meal was finished, he insisted that the disciples get in the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he dismissed the people.
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And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
23 With the crowd dispersed, he climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night.
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And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
24 Meanwhile, the boat was far out to sea when the wind came up against them and they were battered by the waves.
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But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
25 At about four o'clock in the morning, Jesus came toward them walking on the water.
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And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26 They were scared out of their wits. "A ghost!" they said, crying out in terror.
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And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27 But Jesus was quick to comfort them. "Courage, it's me. Don't be afraid."
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But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying,Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
28 Peter, suddenly bold, said, "Master, if it's really you, call me to come to you on the water."
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And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 He said, "Come ahead."
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And he said,Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30 But when he looked down at the waves churning beneath his feet, he lost his nerve and started to sink. He cried, "Master, save me!"
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But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31 Jesus didn't hesitate. He reached down and grabbed his hand. Then he said, "Faint-heart, what got into you?"
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And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him,O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
32 The two of them climbed into the boat, and the wind died down.
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And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
33 The disciples in the boat, having watched the whole thing, worshiped Jesus, saying, "This is it! You are God's Son for sure!"
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Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
34 On return, they beached the boat at Gennesaret.
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And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
35 When the people got wind that he was back, they sent out word through the neighborhood and rounded up all the sick,
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And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
36 who asked for permission to touch the edge of his coat. And whoever touched him was healed.
36
And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
The King James Version is in the public domain.