14:1 - At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
"[139]
14:2 - And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do show forth themselves in him.
Origen Commentary on John Book VI
and Jesus was supposed[144]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
and in the third place, generally that Herod said about Jesus, "It is John the Baptist, he is risen from the dead,"[150]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XII
like Herod the tetrarch who said to his servants, "This is John the Baptist, he is risen from the dead, and therefore do the powers work in him; "[55]
14:3 - For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife.
Tertullian Scorpiace
David is persecuted; Elias put to flight; Jeremias stoned; Esaias cut asunder; Zacharias butchered between the altar and the temple, imparting to the hard stones lasting marks of his blood.[52]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
But this Herod did for the sake of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip. For John said unto him, "It is not lawful for thee to have her."[156]
14:12 - And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
"[165]
14:13 - When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
"[166]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Moreover, also, in another place when Jesus heard the things concerning John and withdrew in a boat to a desert place apart, the multitudes followed Him; when He came forth and saw a great multitude He had compassion on them and healed their sick-the sick of the multitudes, not of the disciples.[40]
14:14 - And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
If, then, we have seemed to make a digression in recounting the difference between the weak and the sickly and those that sleep, because of that which the Apostle said in the letter to the Corinthians which we have expounded, we have made the digression in our desire to represent what is meant to be understood by the saying, "And He healed their sick."[174]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
they were barley loaves of which the twelve baskets remained over, but nothing of this kind is said about these, how are not these superior to the former? And the sick of those He healed,[211]
14:15 - And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
"[175]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
But now after the healing of the deaf and the rest, He takes compassion on the multitude which had continued with Him now three days and had nothing to eat. And there the disciples make request concerning the five thousand;[201]
14:16 - But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give all of you them to eat.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Jesus, then, because of the power which He gave to the disciples, even the power of nourishing others, said, Give ye them to eat.[8]
14:17 - And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes.
Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book V
will raise us up; He that satisfied five thousand men with five loaves and two fishes, and caused a remainder of twelve baskets,[60]Acts of the Holy Apostle Thomas
e three words with which I am set on fire, and I cannot tell them to others; O Jesus, man slain, dead, buried; Jesus, God of God, and Saviour who bringest the dead to life, and healest those who are diseased; O Jesus, who appearest to be in want, and savest as if in want of nothing, catching the fishes for the morning and the evening meal, and establishing all in abundance with a little bread; Jesus, who didst rest from the toil of the journey as a man, and walk upon the waves as God;[38]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Such is the contribution we have been able to give to the exposition of the word about the five loaves and the two fishes; and probably those, who are better able than we to gather together the five loaves and the two fishes among themselves, would be able to give a fuller and better interpretation of their meaning. It must be observed, however, that while in Matthew, Mark, and Luke,[13]
14:19 - And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
Irenaeus Against Heresies Book II
(love), too, consists of five letters; and our Lord, after[187]Hippolytus Refutation of All Heresies Book IX
, and each receives from these a sufficient portion. No one, however, tastes these before the priest utters a blessing,[72]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Again, there, the three Evangelists say in the very same words that "He took the five loaves and the two fishes and looking up to heaven He blessed; "[206]
14:20 - And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
Didache
:[89]
14:21 - And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
"[18]
14:22 - And immediately Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
nstrained the disciples to enter into the boat, as being stronger and able to get as far as the middle of the sea, and to endure the trials by the waves, until they became worthy of divine assistance, and saw Jesus and heard Him when He had gone up, and to cross over and come to the land Gennesaret; but as for the multitudes who, because they were weaker, did not make trial of the boat and the waves and the contrary wind, them He sent away, and went up into the mountain apart to pray.[52]
14:23 - And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
And at first, when He was asked by the disciples to send away the multitudes, He did not send them away until He had fed them with the loaves of blessing; but now He sends them away, having first constrained the disciples to enter into the boat; and He sends them away, while they were somewhere below,-for the desert was below,-but He Himself went up into the mountain to pray.[44]
14:24 - But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary.
Lactantius Divine Institutes Book IV
then, setting His feet on the sea,[183]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Only, the disciples were not able to go before Jesus to the other side; but, when they had got as far as the middle of the sea, and the boat was distressed "because the wind was contrary to them,"[45]
14:25 - And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
Tertullian On Baptism
;[90]Archelaus Acts of the Disputation with the Heresiarch Manes
and here, the Lord Jesus walked with all power upon the waters.[537]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Wherefore the Word, taking compassion upon them who had done all that was in their power to reach the other side, came to them walking upon the sea, which for Him had no waves or wind that was able to oppose if He so willed; for it is not written, "He came to them walking upon the waves," but, "upon the waters; "[48]
14:26 - And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
Methodius Oration on the Psalms
They heard that He had walked on the sea.[29]
14:27 - But immediately Jesus spoke unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
And when we see the Word appearing unto us we shall indeed be troubled before we clearly understand that it is the Saviour who has come to us, supposing that we are still beholding an apparition, and for fear shall cry out; but He Himself straightway will speak to us saying, "Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid."[56]
14:28 - And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be you, bid me come unto you on the water.
Tertullian On Baptism
Others make the suggestion (forced enough, clearly "that the apostles then served the turn of baptism when in their little ship, were sprinkled and covered with the waves: that Peter himself also was immersed enough when he walked on the sea."[124]
14:29 - And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Just as Peter, who at first when Jesus said to him, "Come," went down from the boat and walked not upon "the waves," but upon "the waters"[49]
14:30 - But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
ter be found among us, who is on his way to perfection but has not yet become perfect, having gone down from the boat, as if coming out of that temptation in which he was distressed, he will indeed walk at first, wishing to come to Jesus upon the waters; but being as yet of little faith, and as yet doubting, will see that the wind is strong and will be afraid and begin to sink; but he will not sink because he will call upon Jesus with loud voice, and will say to Him, "Lord, save me; "[57]
14:31 - And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O you of little faith, wherefore did you doubt?
Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews
Also in the Gospel according to Matthew: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? "[602]Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book VII
Be not of a doubtful mind in thy prayer, whether it shall be granted or no. For the Lord said to me Peter upon the sea: "O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? "[82]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book X
See, then, that to those who said, "Why could we not cast it out? "He said, "Because of your little faith."[130]Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
then immediately while such a Peter is yet speaking and saying, "Lord save me," the Word will stretch forth His hand, holding out assistance to such an one, and will take hold of him when he is beginning to sink, and will reproach him for his little faith and doubting.[58]
14:32 - And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
Tertullian On the Resurrection of the Flesh
He immediately annexes a parable of this in "the trees which are tenderly sprouting into a flower-stalk, and then developing the flower, which is the precursor of the fruit."[135]
14:33 - Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Truthfully you are the Son of God.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
and who call Him so with the addition "truly," like those in the boat who worshipped Him saying, "Truly Thou art the Son of God."[164]
14:34 - And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Whence the "thence"? Was it from the land of Gennesaret, concerning which it was said before, "And when they had crossed over they came into the land of Gennesaret? "[152]
14:35 - And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased;
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
" What time, therefore, are we to understand by "then"? At the time when Jesus and His disciples crossed over and came in the boat to the land of Gennesaret, when the wind ceased from the time that Jesus entered into the boat, and when "the men of that place knowing Him sent into all that region round about, and brought unto Him all that were sick, and besought Him that they might touch if it were only the border of His garment, and as many as touched were made whole."[68]
14:36 - And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
Origen Commentary on Matthew Book XI
Nor did they merely touch the garment, like the woman who had an issue of blood, but they touched after that they had besought Him. Only, of these, "as many as touched were made whole."[63]