They All Ate and Were Satisfied

1And calling the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases,

2And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick,

3And he said to them, “Take nothing for the journey—neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics each.”

4And whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there.

5And as for all who do not receive you, as you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.

6So they went out and traveled through the villages, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.

7Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed because it was being said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

8and by some, that Elijah had appeared, and by others, that a prophet of the ancients had risen.

9But Herod said, “John I beheaded; but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he kept seeking to see him.

10And when the apostles returned, they reported to him what they had done. And taking them with him, he withdrew privately to a town called Bethsaida.

11But the crowds, learning of it, followed him. And welcoming them, he was speaking to them about the kingdom of God and healing those who had need of healing.

12The day began to decline, and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, find lodging, and get provisions, because we are here in a desolate place.”

13But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” But they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this people.”

14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them recline in groups of about fifty each.”

15And they did so, and had them all sit down.

16Then, taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them and broke them and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17And they all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over of the broken pieces was picked up for them: twelve baskets.