1 About that time there was again an immense crowd, and they found themselves with nothing to eat. So He called His disciples to Him.
2 »My heart yearns over the people,« He said; »for this is now the third day they have remained with me, and they have nothing to eat.
3 If I were to send them home hungry, they would faint on the way, some of them having come a great distance.«
4 »Where can we possibly get bread here in this remote place to satisfy such a crowd?« answered His disciples.
5 »How many loaves have you?« He asked. »Seven,« they said.
6 So He passed the word to the people to sit down on the ground. Then taking the seven loaves He blessed them, and broke them into portions and proceeded to give them to His disciples for them to distribute, and they distributed them to the people.
7 They had also a few small fish. He blessed them, and He told His disciples to distribute these also.
8 So the people ate an abundant meal; and what remained over they picked up and carried away–seven hampers of broken pieces.
9 The number fed were about 4,000. Then He sent them away,