11. But when the crowds learned of it, [they] followed Him; and He welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who needed restoration to health.
12. Now the day began to decline, and the Twelve came and said to Him, Dismiss the crowds and send them away, so that they may go to the neighboring hamlets and villages and the surrounding country and find lodging and get a supply of provisions, for we are here in an uninhabited (barren, solitary) place.
13. But He said to them, You [yourselves] give them [food] to eat. They said, We have no more than five loaves and two fish–unless we are to go and buy food for all this crowd, [II Kings 4:42-44.]
14. For there were about 5,000 men. And [Jesus] said to His disciples, Have them [sit down] reclining in table groups (companies) of about fifty each.
15. And they did so, and made them all recline.
16. And taking the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven and [praising God] gave thanks and asked Him to bless them [to their use]. Then He broke them and gave them to the disciples to place before the multitude.
17. And all the people ate and were satisfied. And they gathered up what remained over–twelve [small hand] baskets of broken pieces.
18. Now it occurred that as Jesus was praying privately, the disciples were with Him, and He asked them, Who do men say that I am?
19. And they answered, John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back to life.
20. And He said to them, But who do you [yourselves] say that I am? And Peter replied, The Christ of God!
21. But He strictly charged and sharply commanded them [under penalty] to tell this to no one [no one, whoever he might be],
22. Saying, The Son of Man must suffer many things and be [deliberately] disapproved and repudiated and rejected on the part of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be put to death and on the third day be raised [again].
23. And He said to all, If any person wills to come after Me, let him deny himself [disown himself, forget, lose sight of himself and his own interests, refuse and give up himself] and take up his cross daily and follow Me [cleave steadfastly to Me, conform wholly to My example in living and, if need be, in dying also].
24. For whoever would preserve his life and save it will lose and destroy it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he will preserve and save it [from the penalty of eternal death].
25. For what does it profit a man, if he gains the whole world and ruins or forfeits (loses) himself?