13. When Jesus heard about it, He withdrew from there by boat to a remote place to be alone. When the crowds heard this, they followed Him on foot from the towns.
14. As He stepped ashore, He saw a huge crowd, felt compassion for them, and healed their sick.
15. When evening came, the disciples approached Him and said, “This place is a wilderness, and it is already late. Send the crowds away so they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16. “They don’t need to go away,” Jesus told them. “You give them something to eat.”
17. “But we only have five loaves and two fish here,” they said to Him.
18. “Bring them here to Me,” He said.
19. Then He commanded the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them. He broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds.
20. Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up 12 baskets full of leftover pieces!
21. Now those who ate were about 5,000 men, besides women and children.
22. Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He dismissed the crowds.
23. After dismissing the crowds, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone.
24. But the boat was already over a mile from land, battered by the waves, because the wind was against them.