1And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases,

2and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.

3And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.

4And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.

5And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."

6And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from the dead,

8by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen.

9Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?" And he sought to see him.

10On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida.

11When the crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing.

12Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him, "Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate place."

13But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish--unless we are to go and buy food for all these people."

14For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, "Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

15And they did so, and had them all sit down.

16And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd.

17And they all ate and were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.