After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee
to go to some place where he could be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns.
When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick.
That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This place is like a desert, and it is already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food."
Jesus replied, "They don't have to leave. Why don't you give them something to eat?"
But they said, "We have only five small loaves of bread and two fish."
Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him,
and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish.
He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.
After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.
There were about five thousand men who ate, not counting the women and children.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
After the apostles returned to Jesus, they told him everything they had done and taught.
But so many people were coming and going that Jesus and the apostles did not even have a chance to eat.
Then Jesus said, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone and get some rest."
They left in a boat for a place where they could be alone. But many people saw them leave and figured out where they were going.
So people from every town ran on ahead and got there first.
When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd that was like sheep without a shepherd.
He felt sorry for the people and started teaching them many things.
That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, "This place is like a desert, and it is already late.
Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat."
Jesus replied, "You give them something to eat."
But they asked him, "Don't you know that it would take almost a year's wages [k] to buy all of these people something to eat?"
Then Jesus said, "How much bread do you have? Go and see!"
They found out and answered, "We have five small loaves of bread and two fish."
Jesus told his disciples to have the people sit down on the green grass.
They sat down in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty.
Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish.
He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people.
He also divided the two fish, so that everyone could have some.
After everyone had eaten all they wanted,
Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.
There were five thousand men who ate the food.
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