Luke 9:7–27

Herod Is Perplexed by Jesus

^7vNow ^wHerod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that ^xJohn had been raised from the dead, ^8xby some that Elijah had appeared, and ^xby others that one of the prophets of old had risen. ⁹Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” And ^yhe sought to see him.

Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand

¹⁰On their return ^zthe apostles told him all that they had done. ^aAnd he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. ¹¹When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he ^bwelcomed them and ^cspoke to them of the kingdom of God and ^ccured those who had need of healing. ¹²Now ^dthe day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, ^e“Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place.” ¹³But he said to them, ^f“You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than ^gfive loaves and two fish—unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” ¹⁴For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” ¹⁵And they did so, and had them all sit down. ¹⁶And taking the five loaves and the two fish, ^hhe looked up to heaven and ⁱsaid a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. ¹⁷And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ

^18jNow it happened that as he was praying alone, the disciples were with him. And he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?” ¹⁹And they answered, ^k“John the Baptist. But others say, ^lElijah, and others, that one of the prophets of old has risen.” ²⁰Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered, ^m“The Christ of God.”

Jesus Foretells His Death

²¹ⁿAnd he strictly charged and commanded them to tell this to no one, ^22osaying, ^p“The Son of Man must ^qsuffer many things and ^rbe rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on ^sthe third day be raised.”

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²³And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him ^tdeny himself and ^utake up his cross ^vdaily and follow me. ²⁴For ^uwhoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. ^25wFor what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? ²⁶For ^xwhoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed ^ywhen he comes in ^zhis glory and the glory of the Father and of ^athe holy angels. ²⁷But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not ^btaste death ^cuntil they see the kingdom of God.”