110 The Death of John the Baptist.

it was said of some that John the Baptist was risen from the dead; and of some that Elias had appeared; and of others, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets. And Herod said unto his servants, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? This is John the Baptist he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. And he desired to see him. For Herod himself had sent forth and laid hold upon John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife: for he had married her. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawful for thee to have thy brother's wife. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel against him, and would have killed him; but she could not for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly. And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. But when a convenient day was come, that Herod on his birthday made a supper to his lords, high captains, and chief estates of Galilee; and when the daughter of the said Herodias came in, and danced, and pleased Herod and them that sat with him, the king said unto the damsel, Ask

The Twelve Apostles return.

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of me whatsoever thou wilt, and I will give it thee. And he sware unto her, Whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom. And she went forth, and said unto her mother, What shall I ask? And she said, The head of John the Baptist. And she came in straightway with haste unto the king, and asked, saying, I will that thou give me here by and by in a charger the head of John the Baptist. And the king was exceeding sorry; yet for his oath's sake, and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her, but commanded it to be given her. And immediately the king sent an executioner, and commanded his head to be brought: and he went and beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a charger, and gave it to the damsel: and the damsel brought it, and gave it to her mother. And when his disciples heard of it, they came and took up his corpse, and laid it in a tomb: and went and told Jesus'.

The Twelve Apostles return. Christ feeds Five Thousand with Five Loaves and Two Fishes.

THE Apostles, when they were returned, gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and

1 Matt. xiv. 1-12. Mark vi. 14-29. Luke ix.

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Christ feeds Five Thousand.

told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And when Jesus heard of it, he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And he took them, and departed thence by ship, and went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias, and went privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them. And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. And Jesus went forth up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh.

When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he received them, and began to teach them many things, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. And when the day was now far spent, the twelve came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: send the

Christ feeds Five Thousand.

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multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and buy themselves victuals: for they have nothing to eat. But Jesus answered and said unto them, They need not depart give ye them to eat. And he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread that these may eat? And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little. And his disciples said unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, one of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, saith unto him, There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many? He said, Bring them hither to me. Now there was much grass in the place. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they did so, and made them all sit down. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his dis

114

Christ walks on the Sea.

ciples to set before the multitude; and the two fishes divided he among them all, as much as they would. And they did all eat, and were filled. When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, and of the fishes, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten. And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world. And straightway Jesus, when he perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, constrained his disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side before unto Bethsaida, while he sent the multitudes away. And when he had sent them away, he went himself alone up into a mountain apart to pray 2.

Christ walks on the Sea. Peter failing in doing the same is rescued.

AND when even was now come, his disciples went down unto the sea, and entered

Matt. xiv. 13-23. Mark vi. 30-46. Luke ix. 10-17. John vi. 1-15.