Luke 9:7-19

⁷Prince Herod heard of all that was happening, and was perplexed, because it was said by some that John must be risen from the dead.

⁸Some again said that Elijah had appeared, and others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

⁹But Herod himself said, “John I beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things?” And he endeavored to see him.

¹⁰When the apostles returned, they related to Jesus all that they had done. Then Jesus went privately to a town called Bethsaida, taking the apostles with him.

¹¹But the people recognized him and followed him in crowds; and Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, while he cured those who were in need of help.

¹²The day was drawing to a close, when the twelve came up to him, and said, “Send the crowd away, so that they may make their way to the villages and farms around about, and find themselves lodgings and provisions, for we are in a lonely spot here.”

¹³But Jesus said, “It is for you to give them something to eat.” “We have not more than five loaves and two fish,” they answered; “unless indeed we are to go and buy food for all these people.”

¹⁴(For the men among them were about five thousand.) “Get them seated in companies,” was his reply, “about fifty in each.”

¹⁵This they did, and got all the people seated.

¹⁶Taking the five loaves and the two fish, Jesus looked up to heaven and said the blessing over them. Then he broke them in pieces, and gave them to his disciples to set before the people.

¹⁷Everyone had sufficient to eat, and what was left of the broken pieces was picked up — twelve baskets.

¹⁸Afterward, when Jesus was alone, praying, his disciples joined him, and he asked them this question — “Who do the people say that I am?”

¹⁹“John the Baptist,” was their answer; “others, however, say that you are Elijah, while others say that one of the old prophets has risen again.”