The Feeding of the Five Thousand

(Matthew 14:13–21, Luke 9:10–17, John 6:1–15)

Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and brought Him news of all they had done and taught. 31 And He said to them,“Come with Me vvv privately to [a] solitary place, and let us rest for a while.” For many [people] were coming and going, and vvv they did not even have time to eat.

32 

So they went away in the boat[fn] by themselves to a solitary place. 33 But many [people] saw them leaving and recognized Him.[fn] They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them. 34 When Jesus stepped ashore [and] saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep vvv without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

35 

By now the hour was already late. [So] the disciples came to [Jesus] [and] said“This is a desolate place, and the hour [is] already late. 36 Dismiss [the crowd] so they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages [and] buy themselves food for they have nothing to eat.[fn]”

37 

But [Jesus] told them,“You give them [something] to eat.”

They asked Him,“Should we go out [and] spend two hundred denarii[fn] to give all of them bread to eat?”

38 

“Go and see how many loaves you have,” He told them.

And after checking, they said,“Five — and two fish.”

39 

Then [Jesus] directed them vvv to have [the people] sit vvv in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down vvv in groups of hundreds and fifties.

41 

Taking the five loaves and the two fish [and] looking up to heaven, [Jesus] spoke a blessing and broke the loaves. Then He gave [them] to His disciples to set before [the people]. And He divided the two fish among them all.

42 

{They} all ate and were satisfied, 43 and [the disciples] picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish. 44 And there were five thousand[fn] men who had eaten the loaves.

45