The Feeding of the Five Thousand

30 Meanwhile, the apostles gathered around Jesus and told him about all they had done and taught. 31 Then he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest for a little while.” For many people were coming and going, and Jesus and his apostles did not even have an opportunity to eat. 32 So they went away to a desolate place in [fn]the boat by themselves. 33 Now [fn]many saw them going away and recognized [fn]Jesus. They ran together on foot from all the [fn]towns, got there ahead of them, and gathered around him. 34 When Jesus went ashore and saw a large crowd, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began to teach them many things.

35 When the hour was already quite late, his disciples came to him and said, “This place is desolate, and the hour is now late. 36 Send the people away so that they may go into the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves [fn]some bread, for they have nothing to eat.” 37 But Jesus answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give it to them to eat?” 38 He said to them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39 Then he directed them to have all the people sit down in groups on the green grass. 40 So they sat down in groups of hundreds and fifties. 41 Then he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed the food. He broke the loaves and gave them to [fn]his disciples to set before the people, and he divided the two fish among them all. 42 They all ate and were filled, 43 and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces and of the fish. 44 Now those who had eaten the loaves were [fn]five thousand men.