Chapter XLV.—Of the Order and the Method in Which All the Four Evangelists Come
to the Narration of the Miracle of the Five Loaves.
93. After stating how the report of John’s death was brought to Christ, Matthew continues
his account, and introduces it in the following connection: “When Jesus heard of it, He de-
parted thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they
followed Him on foot out of the cities. And He went forth, and saw a great multitude, and
was moved with compassion toward them, and He healed their sick.”1050 He mentions,
therefore, that this took place immediately after John had suffered. Consequently it was
after this that those things took place which have been previously recorded—namely, the
circumstances which alarmed Herod, and induced him to say, “John have I beheaded.”1051
For it must surely be understood that these incidents occurred subsequently which report
carried to the ears of Herod, so that he became anxious, and was in perplexity as to who
that person possibly could be of whom he heard things so remarkable, when he had himself
put John to death. Mark, again, after relating how John suffered, mentions that the disciples
who had been sent forth returned to Jesus, and told Him all that they had done and taught;
and that the Lord (a fact which he alone records) directed them to rest for a little while in
a desert place, and that He went on board a vessel with them, and departed; and that the
crowds of people, when they perceived that movement, went before them to that place; and
that the Lord had compassion on them, and taught them many things; and that, when the
hour was now advancing, it came to pass that all who were present were made to eat of the
five loaves and the two fishes.1052 This miracle has been recorded by all the four evangelists.
For in like manner, Luke, who has given an account of the death of John at a much earlier
stage in his narrative,1053 in connection with the occasion of which we have spoken, in the
present context tells us first of Herod’s perplexity as to who the Lord could be, and immedi-
ately thereafter appends statements to the same effect with those in Mark,—namely, that
the apostles returned to Him, and reported to Him all that they had done; and that then He
took them with Him and departed into a desert place, and that the multitudes followed Him
thither, and that He spake to them concerning the kingdom of God, and restored those who
stood in need of healing. Then, too, he mentions that, when the day was declining, the
miracle of the five loaves was wrought.1054
94. But John, again, who differs greatly from those three in this respect, that he deals
more with the discourses which the Lord delivered than with the works which He so mar-
1050 Matt. xiv. 13, 14.
1051 Luke ix. 9.
1052 Mark vi. 30–44.
1053 Luke iii. 20.
1054 Luke ix. 10–17.
Of the Order and the Method in Which All the Four Evangelists Come to the Narration of the Miracle of the Five Loaves.
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Of the Order and the Method in Which All the Four Evangelists Come to the…