The Life of Jesus

And he saith to them, `How many loaves have ye? go and see;' and having known, they say, `Five, and two fishes.'

And he commanded them to make all recline in companies upon the green grass,

and they sat down in squares, by hundreds, and by fifties.

And having taken the five loaves and the two fishes, having looked up to the heaven, he blessed, and brake the loaves, and was giving to his disciples, that they may set before them, and the two fishes divided he to all,

and they did all eat, and were filled,

and they took up of broken pieces twelve hand-baskets full, and of the fishes,

and those eating of the loaves were about five thousand men.

And immediately he constrained his disciples to go into the boat, and to go before to the other side, unto Bethsaida, till he may let the multitude away,

and having taken leave of them, he went away to the mountain to pray.

And evening having come, the boat was in the midst of the sea, and he alone upon the land;

and he saw them harassed in the rowing, for the wind was against them, and about the fourth watch of the night he doth come to them walking on the sea, and wished to pass by them.

And they having seen him walking on the sea, thought it to be an apparition, and cried out,

for they all saw him, and were troubled, and immediately he spake with them, and saith to them, `Take courage, I am he , be not afraid.'

And he went up unto them to the boat, and the wind lulled, and greatly out of measure were they amazed in themselves, and were wondering,

for they understood not concerning the loaves, for their heart hath been hard.

And having passed over, they came upon the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore,

and they having come forth out of the boat, immediately having recognised him,

having run about through all that region round about, they began upon the couches to carry about those ill, where they were hearing that he is,

and wherever he was going, to villages, or cities, or fields, in the market-places they were laying the infirm, and were calling upon him, that they may touch if it were but the fringe of his garment, and as many as were touching him were saved.

And gathered together unto him are the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, having come from Jerusalem,

and having seen certain of his disciples with defiled hands--that is, unwashed--eating bread, they found fault;

for the Pharisees, and all the Jews, if they do not wash the hands to the wrist, do not eat, holding the tradition of the elders,

and, coming from the market-place, if they do not baptize themselves, they do not eat; and many other things there are that they received to hold, baptisms of cups, and pots, and brazen vessels, and couches.

Then question him do the Pharisees and the scribes, `Wherefore do thy disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but with unwashed hands do eat the bread?'

and he answering said to them--`Well did Isaiah prophesy concerning you, hypocrites, as it hath been written, This people with the lips doth honour Me, and their heart is far from Me;