Matteo 14
Conferenza Episcopale Italiana
Erode e Gesù
14 In quel tempo il tetrarca Erode ebbe notizia della fama di Gesù. 2 Egli disse ai suoi cortigiani: «Costui è Giovanni il Battista risuscitato dai morti; per ciò la potenza dei miracoli opera in lui».
Esecuzione di Giovanni Battista
3 Erode aveva arrestato Giovanni e lo aveva fatto incatenare e gettare in prigione per causa di Erodìade, moglie di Filippo suo fratello. 4 Giovanni infatti gli diceva: «Non ti è lecito tenerla!». 5 Benché Erode volesse farlo morire, temeva il popolo perché lo considerava un profeta.
6 Venuto il compleanno di Erode, la figlia di Erodìade danzò in pubblico e piacque tanto a Erode 7 che egli le promise con giuramento di darle tutto quello che avesse domandato. 8 Ed essa, istigata dalla madre, disse: «Dammi qui, su un vassoio, la testa di Giovanni il Battista». 9 Il re ne fu contristato, ma a causa del giuramento e dei commensali ordinò che le fosse data 10 e mandò a decapitare Giovanni nel carcere. 11 La sua testa venne portata su un vassoio e fu data alla fanciulla, ed ella la portò a sua madre. 12 I suoi discepoli andarono a prendere il cadavere, lo seppellirono e andarono a informarne Gesù.
Prima moltiplicazione dei pani
13 Udito ciò, Gesù partì di là su una barca e si ritirò in disparte in un luogo deserto. Ma la folla, saputolo, lo seguì a piedi dalle città. 14 Egli, sceso dalla barca, vide una grande folla e sentì compassione per loro e guarì i loro malati.
15 Sul far della sera, gli si accostarono i discepoli e gli dissero: «Il luogo è deserto ed è ormai tardi; congeda la folla perché vada nei villaggi a comprarsi da mangiare». 16 Ma Gesù rispose: «Non occorre che vadano; date loro voi stessi da mangiare». 17 Gli risposero: «Non abbiamo che cinque pani e due pesci!». 18 Ed egli disse: «Portatemeli qua». 19 E dopo aver ordinato alla folla di sedersi sull'erba, prese i cinque pani e i due pesci e, alzati gli occhi al cielo, pronunziò la benedizione, spezzò i pani e li diede ai discepoli e i discepoli li distribuirono alla folla. 20 Tutti mangiarono e furono saziati; e portarono via dodici ceste piene di pezzi avanzati. 21 Quelli che avevano mangiato erano circa cinquemila uomini, senza contare le donne e i bambini.
Gesù cammina sulle acque e Pietro con lui
22 Subito dopo ordinò ai discepoli di salire sulla barca e di precederlo sull'altra sponda, mentre egli avrebbe congedato la folla. 23 Congedata la folla, salì sul monte, solo, a pregare. Venuta la sera, egli se ne stava ancora solo lassù.
24 La barca intanto distava gia qualche miglio da terra ed era agitata dalle onde, a causa del vento contrario. 25 Verso la fine della notte egli venne verso di loro camminando sul mare. 26 I discepoli, a vederlo camminare sul mare, furono turbati e dissero: «E' un fantasma» e si misero a gridare dalla paura. 27 Ma subito Gesù parlò loro: «Coraggio, sono io, non abbiate paura». 28 Pietro gli disse: «Signore, se sei tu, comanda che io venga da te sulle acque». 29 Ed egli disse: «Vieni!». Pietro, scendendo dalla barca, si mise a camminare sulle acque e andò verso Gesù. 30 Ma per la violenza del vento, s'impaurì e, cominciando ad affondare, gridò: «Signore, salvami!». 31 E subito Gesù stese la mano, lo afferrò e gli disse: «Uomo di poca fede, perché hai dubitato?».
32 Appena saliti sulla barca, il vento cessò. 33 Quelli che erano sulla barca gli si prostrarono davanti, esclamando: «Tu sei veramente il Figlio di Dio!».
Guarigioni nel paese di Genèsaret
34 Compiuta la traversata, approdarono a Genèsaret. 35 E la gente del luogo, riconosciuto Gesù, diffuse la notizia in tutta la regione; gli portarono tutti i malati, 36 e lo pregavano di poter toccare almeno l'orlo del suo mantello. E quanti lo toccavano guarivano.
Matthew 14
Contemporary English Version
The Death of John the Baptist
(Mark 6.14-29; Luke 9.7-9)
14 About this time Herod the ruler[a] heard the news about Jesus 2 and told his officials, “This is John the Baptist! He has come back from death, and that's why he has the power to work these miracles.”
3-4 (A) Herod had earlier arrested John and had him chained and put in prison. He did this because John had told him, “It isn't right for you to take Herodias, the wife of your brother Philip.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John. But the people thought John was a prophet, and Herod was afraid of what they might do.
6 When Herod's birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced for the guests. She pleased Herod 7 so much he swore to give her whatever she wanted. 8 But the girl's mother told her to say, “Here on a serving plate I want the head of John the Baptist!”
9 Herod was sorry for what he had said. But he did not want to break the promise he had made in front of his guests. So he ordered a guard 10 to go to the prison and cut off John's head. 11 It was taken on a serving plate to the girl, and she gave it to her mother. 12 John's followers took his body and buried it. Then they told Jesus what had happened.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
(Mark 6.30-44; Luke 9.10-17; John 6.1-14)
13 After Jesus heard about John, he crossed Lake Galilee[b] to go to some place where he could be alone. But the crowds found out and followed him on foot from the towns. 14 When Jesus got out of the boat, he saw the large crowd. He felt sorry for them and healed everyone who was sick.
15 That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it's already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the villages and buy some food.”
16 Jesus replied, “They don't have to leave. Why don't you give them something to eat?”
17 But they said, “We have only five small loaves of bread[c] and two fish.” 18 Jesus asked his disciples to bring the food to him, 19 and he told the crowd to sit down on the grass. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples, and they gave it to the people.
20 After everyone had eaten all they wanted, Jesus' disciples picked up twelve large baskets of leftovers.
21 There were about 5,000 men who ate, not counting the women and children.
Jesus Walks on the Water
(Mark 6.45-52; John 6.15-21)
22 At once, Jesus made his disciples get into a boat and start back across the lake.[d] But he stayed until he had sent the crowds away. 23 Then he went up on a mountain where he could be alone and pray. Later in the evening, he was still there.
24 By this time the boat was a long way from the shore. It was going against the wind and was being tossed around by the waves. 25 A little while before morning, Jesus came walking on the water toward his disciples. 26 When they saw him, they thought he was a ghost. They were terrified and started screaming.
27 At once, Jesus said to them, “Don't worry! I am Jesus. Don't be afraid.”
28 Peter replied, “Lord, if it really is you, tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come on!” Jesus said. Peter then got out of the boat and started walking on the water toward him.
30 But when Peter saw how strong the wind was, he was afraid and started sinking. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.
31 At once, Jesus reached out his hand. He helped Peter up and said, “You surely don't have much faith. Why do you doubt?”
32 When Jesus and Peter got into the boat, the wind died down. 33 The men in the boat worshiped Jesus and said, “You really are the Son of God!”
Jesus Heals Sick People in Gennesaret
(Mark 6.53-56)
34 Jesus and his disciples crossed the lake and came to shore near the town of Gennesaret. 35 The people found out he was there, and they sent word to everyone who lived in this part of the country. So they brought all the sick people to Jesus. 36 They begged him just to let them touch his clothes, and everyone who did was healed.
Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.
