1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
2 and said to his servants, This is John the baptist: *he* is risen from the dead, and because of this these works of power display their force in him.
3 For Herod had seized John, and had bound him and put him in prison on account of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother.
4 For John said to him, It is not lawful for thee to have her.
5 And [while] desiring to kill him, he feared the crowd, because they held him for a prophet.
6 But when Herod's birthday was celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod;
7 whereupon he promised with oath to give her whatsoever she should ask.
8 But she, being set on by her mother, says, Give me here upon a dish the head of John the baptist.
9 And the king was grieved; but on account of the oaths, and those lying at table with [him], he commanded [it] to be given.
10 And he sent and beheaded John in the prison;
11 and his head was brought upon a dish, and was given to the damsel, and she carried [it] to her mother.
12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and came and brought word to Jesus.
13 And Jesus, having heard it, went away thence by ship to a desert place apart. And the crowds having heard [of it] followed him on foot from the cities.
14 And going out he saw a great crowd, and was moved with compassion about them, and healed their infirm.
15 But when even was come, his disciples came to him saying, The place is desert, and [much of] the [day] time already gone by; dismiss the crowds, that they may go into the villages and buy food for themselves.
16 But Jesus said to them, They have no need to go: give *ye* them to eat.
17 But they say to him, We have not here save five loaves and two fishes.
18 And he said, Bring them here to me.
19 And having commanded the crowds to recline upon the grass, having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed: and having broken the loaves, he gave [them] to the disciples, and the disciples [gave them] to the crowds.
20 And all ate and were filled, and they took up what was over and above of fragments twelve hand-baskets full.
21 But those that had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
22 And immediately he compelled the disciples to go on board ship, and to go on before him to the other side, until he should have dismissed the crowds.
23 And having dismissed the crowds, he went up into the mountain apart to pray. And when even was come, he was alone there,
24 but the ship was already in the middle of the sea tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.
25 But in the fourth watch of the night he went off to them, walking on the sea.
26 And the disciples, seeing him walking on the sea, were troubled, saying, It is an apparition. And they cried out through fear.
27 But Jesus immediately spoke to them, saying, Take courage; it is *I*: be not afraid.
28 And Peter answering him said, Lord, if it be *thou*, command me to come to thee upon the waters.
29 And he said, Come. And Peter, having descended from the ship, walked upon the waters to go to Jesus.
30 But seeing the wind strong he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, Lord, save me.
31 And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught hold of him, and says to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?
32 And when they had gone up into the ship, the wind fell.
33 But those in the ship came and did homage to him, saying, Truly thou art God's Son.
34 And having crossed over they came to the land of Gennesaret.
35 And when the men of that place recognised him, they sent to that whole country around, and they brought to him all that were ill,
36 and besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment; and as many as touched were made thoroughly well.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Matthew 14
Commentary on Matthew 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Mt 14:1-12. Herod Thinks Jesus a Resurrection of the Murdered Baptist—Account of His Imprisonment and Death. ( = Mr 6:14-29; Lu 9:7-9).
The time of this alarm of Herod Antipas appears to have been during the mission of the Twelve, and shortly after the Baptist—who had been in prison for probably more than a year—had been cruelly put to death.
Herod's Theory of the Works of Christ (Mt 14:1, 2).
1. At that time Herod the tetrarch—Herod Antipas, one of the three sons of Herod the Great, and own brother of Archelaus (Mt 2:22), who ruled as ethnarch over Galilee and Perea.
heard of the fame of Jesus—"for His name was spread abroad" (Mr 6:14).
2. And said unto his servants—his counsellors or court-ministers.
This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, &c.—The murdered prophet haunted his guilty breast like a specter and seemed to him alive again and clothed with unearthly powers in the person of Jesus.
Account of the Baptist's Imprisonment and Death (Mt 14:3-12). For the exposition of this portion, see on Mr 6:17-29.
Mt 14:12-21. Hearing of the Baptist's Death, Jesus Crosses the Lake with Twelve, and Miraculously Feeds Five Thousand. ( = Mr 6:30-44; Lu 9:10-17; Joh 6:1-14).
For the exposition of this section—one of the very few where all the four Evangelists run parallel—see on Mr 6:30-44.
Mt 14:22-26. Jesus Crosses to the Western Side of the Lake Walking on the Sea—Incidents on Landing. ( = Mr 6:45; Joh 6:15-24).
For the exposition, see on Joh 6:15-24.
28. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it is thou, bid me come to thee on the water—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)
29. And he said, Come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat. he walked on the water, to go to Jesus—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)
30. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)
31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said to him, O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt?—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)
32. And when they had come into the boat, the wind ceased—(Also see on Mr 6:50.)