13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities.
14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.
15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”
16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”
17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.”
19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes.
20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.
21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.
This is the only miracle (except the resurrection) that appears in all four gospels — Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-13
heard it (v.13) — John’s death, or that Herod had heard of His ministry (or both)
Herod never saw Jesus until His trial, at which time Jesus refused to speak in his presence.
evening (v.15) — probably around 3:00 p.m. by Jewish reckoning
five loaves and two fish (v.17) — the meal of a boy, discovered by Andrew. The loaves were barley, a poor type of bread. — Psalm 132:15
