The Feeding of the Five Thousand
Jesus crosses to the far side of the Sea of Galilee, where a crowd follows because of the signs on the sick. On the mountain, with Passover near, he tests Philip by asking where bread can be found for so many.
A1fter this, Jesus crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias). 2A large crowd followed Him because they saw the signs He was performing on the sick. 3Then Jesus went up on the mountain and sat down with His disciples. 4Now the Jewish Feast of the Passover was near. 5When Jesus looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where can we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6But He was asking this to test him, for He knew what He was about to do.
Philip measures the need by cost, and Andrew points to a boy's small food, only to admit its smallness before the crowd. Jesus then orders the men to sit on the grass, gives thanks, and feeds them until everyone is full.
7Philip answered, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to have a small piece.” 8One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, 9“Here is a boy with five barley loaves and two small fish. But what difference will these make among so many?” 10“Have the people sit down,” Jesus said. Now there was plenty of grass in that place, so the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11Then Jesus took the loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. 12And when everyone was full, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”
The leftovers fill twelve baskets, and the crowd names Jesus the Prophet who is coming into the world. When they move to seize him as king by force, he withdraws again to the mountain alone.
13So they collected them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. 14When the people saw the sign that Jesus had performed, they began to say, “Truly this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” 15Then Jesus, realizing that they were about to come and make Him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by Himself.