6. But when Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced in the midst [before the company] and pleased and fascinated Herod,
7. And so he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask.
8. And she, being put forward and prompted by her mother, said, Give me the head of John the Baptist right here on a platter.
9. And the king was distressed and sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests, he ordered it to be given her;
10. He sent and had John beheaded in the prison.
11. And his head was brought in on a platter and given to the little maid, and she brought it to her mother.
12. And John's disciples came and took up the body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.
13. When Jesus heard it, He withdrew from there privately in a boat to a solitary place. But when the crowds heard of it, they followed Him [by land] on foot from the towns.
14. When He went ashore and saw a great throng of people, He had compassion (pity and deep sympathy) for them and cured their sick.
15. When evening came, the disciples came to Him and said, This is a remote and barren place, and the day is now over; send the throngs away into the villages to buy food for themselves.
16. Jesus said, They do not need to go away; you give them something to eat.
17. They said to Him, We have nothing here but five loaves and two fish.
18. He said, Bring them here to Me.