16. Jesus answered, “They don’t need to go away. You give them some food to eat.”
17. The followers answered, “But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish.”
18. Jesus said, “Bring the bread and the fish to me.”
19. Then he told the people to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves of bread and the two fish. Then he looked to heaven and thanked God for the food. Jesus divided the loaves of bread. He gave them to his followers, and they gave the bread to the people.
20. All the people ate and were satisfied. After they finished eating, the followers filled 12 baskets with the pieces of food that were not eaten.
21. There were about 5,000 men there who ate, as well as women and children.
22. Then Jesus made his followers get into the boat. He told them to go ahead of him to the other side of the lake. Jesus stayed there to tell the people they could go home.
23. After he said good-bye to them, he went alone up into the hills to pray. It was late, and Jesus was there alone.
24. By this time, the boat was already far away on the lake. The boat was having trouble because of the waves, and the wind was blowing against it.
25. Between three and six o’clock in the morning, Jesus’ followers were still in the boat. Jesus came to them. He was walking on the water.
26. When the followers saw him walking on the water, they were afraid. They said, “It’s a ghost!” and cried out in fear.
27. But Jesus quickly spoke to them. He said, “Have courage! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
28. Peter said, “Lord, if that is really you, then tell me to come to you on the water.”