26. And the king was deeply pained and grieved and exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he did not want to slight her [by breaking faith with her].
27. And immediately the king sent off one [of the soldiers] of his bodyguard and gave him orders to bring [John's] head. He went and beheaded him in the prison
28. And brought his head on a platter and handed it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother.
29. When his disciples learned of it, they came and took [John's] body and laid it in a tomb.
30. The apostles [sent out as missionaries] came back and gathered together to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught.
31. And He said to them, [As for you] come away by yourselves to a deserted place, and rest a while–for many were [continually] coming and going, and they had not even leisure enough to eat.
32. And they went away in a boat to a solitary place by themselves.
33. Now many [people] saw them going and recognized them, and they ran there on foot from all the surrounding towns, and they got there ahead [of those in the boat].
34. As Jesus landed, He saw a great crowd waiting, and He was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things.
35. And when the day was already far gone, His disciples came to Him and said, This is a desolate and isolated place, and the hour is now late.
36. Send the crowds away to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat.
37. But He replied to them, Give them something to eat yourselves. And they said to Him, Shall we go and buy 200 denarii [about forty dollars] worth of bread and give it to them to eat? [II Kings 4:42-44.]
38. And He said to them, How many loaves do you have? Go and see. And when they [had looked and] knew, they said, Five [loaves] and two fish.
39. Then He commanded the people all to recline on the green grass by companies.
40. So they threw themselves down in ranks of hundreds and fifties [with the regularity of an arrangement of beds of herbs, looking like so many garden plots].
41. And taking the five loaves and two fish, He looked up to heaven and, praising God, gave thanks and broke the loaves and kept on giving them to the disciples to set before the people; and He [also] divided the two fish among [them] all.
42. And they all ate and were satisfied.
43. And they took up twelve [small hand] baskets full of broken pieces [from the loaves] and of the fish.