The Feeding of the Five Thousand

6:1 After this1 Jesus went away to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (also called the Sea of Tiberias).2 6:2 A large crowd was following him because they were observing the miraculous signs he was performing on the sick. 6:3 So Jesus went on up the mountainside3 and sat down there with his disciples. 6:4 (Now the Jewish feast of the Passover4 was near.)5 6:5 Then Jesus, when he looked up6 and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread so that these people may eat?” 6:6 (Now Jesus7 said this to test him, for he knew what he was going to do.)8 6:7 Philip replied,9 “Two hundred silver coins worth10 of bread would not be enough for them, for each one to get a little.” 6:8 One of Jesus’ disciples,11 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 6:9 “Here is a boy who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what good12 are these for so many people?”

6:10 Jesus said, “Have13 the people sit down.” (Now there was a lot of grass in that place.)14 So the men15 sat down, about five thousand in number. 6:11 Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed the bread to those who were seated. He then did the same with the fish,16 as much as they wanted. 6:12 When they were all satisfied, Jesus17 said to his disciples, “Gather up the broken pieces that are left over, so that nothing is wasted.” 6:13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with broken pieces from the five barley loaves18 left over by the people who had eaten.

6:14 Now when the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus19 performed, they began to say to one another, “This is certainly the Prophet20 who is to come into the world.”21 6:15 Then Jesus, because he knew they were going to come and seize him by force to make him king, withdrew again up the mountainside alone.22