Mark 6

The Apostles Return

30The apostles gathered around Jesus and told him everything they had done and taught. 31He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a little.” So many people were coming and going that they had no chance even to eat. 32So they went away by themselves in the boat to a deserted place. 33But many saw them leaving and recognized them. People ran there on foot from all the towns and arrived ahead of them. 34When Jesus stepped ashore, he saw a large crowd and felt compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. He began teaching them many things.

Jesus Feeds Five Thousand

35By then it was late. His disciples came to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and it is already late. 36Send them away so they can go to the surrounding farms and villages and buy themselves something to eat.” 37But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “Are we to go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?” 38He asked them, “How many loaves do you have? Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five, and two fish.” 39He told the disciples to have everyone sit down in groups on the green grass. 40They sat down in groups of a hundred and of fifty. 41Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, and spoke a blessing. He broke the loaves and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all. 42They all ate and had enough. 43They gathered twelve basketfuls of broken pieces, as well as what was left of the fish. 44The men who ate the bread numbered five thousand.