15. When evening arrived, his disciples came to him saying, “This is an isolated place and the hour is already late. Send the crowds away so that they can go into the villages and buy food for themselves.”
16. But he replied, “They don’t need to go. You give them something to eat.”
17. They said to him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”
18. “Bring them here to me,” he replied.
19. Then he instructed the crowds to sit down on the grass. He took the five loaves and two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks and broke the loaves. He gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
20. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the broken pieces left over, twelve baskets full.
21. Not counting women and children, there were about five thousand men who ate.
22. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he dispersed the crowds.
23. And after he sent the crowds away, he went up the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
24. Meanwhile the boat, already far from land, was taking a beating from the waves because the wind was against it.