39. Jesus told his disciples to make the people sit down on the green grass.
40. They sat down in groups of a hundred and groups of fifty.
41. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up towards 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.
42. After everyone had eaten all they wanted,
43. Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftover bread and fish.
44. There were five thousand men who ate the food.
45. Straight away, Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and start back across to Bethsaida. But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away.
46. Then he said goodbye to them and went up on the side of a mountain to pray.
47. Later that evening he was still there by himself, and the boat was somewhere in the middle of the lake.
48. He could see that the disciples were struggling hard, because they were rowing against the wind. Not long before morning, Jesus came towards them. He was walking on the water and was about to pass the boat.
49. When the disciples saw Jesus walking on the water, they thought he was a ghost, and they started screaming.
50. All of them saw him and were terrified. But at that same time he said, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.”
51. He then got into the boat with them, and the wind died down. The disciples were completely confused.
52. Their minds were closed, and they could not understand the true meaning of the loaves of bread.
53. Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and brought the boat to shore near the town of Gennesaret.