10. When the apostles returned, they explained to him what they had done. He took them and withdrew in private to a town called Bethsaida.
11. The crowds, meanwhile, learned of this and followed him. He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed to be cured.
12. As the day was drawing to a close, the Twelve approached him and said, “Dismiss the crowd so that they can go to the surrounding villages and farms and find lodging and provisions; for we are in a deserted place here.”
13. He said to them, “Give them some food yourselves.” They replied, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have, unless we ourselves go and buy food for all these people.”
14. Now the men there numbered about five thousand. Then he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of [about] fifty.”
15. They did so and made them all sit down.
16. Then taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing over them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.
17. They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.
18. Once when Jesus was praying in solitude, and the disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19. They said in reply, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, ‘One of the ancient prophets has arisen.’”
20. Then he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter said in reply, “The Messiah of God.”
21. He rebuked them and directed them not to tell this to anyone.