Luke 9:10

And the apostles, when they were returned, declared unto him what things they had done. And he took them, and withdrew apart to a city called Bethsaida. But the multitude perceiving it followed him: and he welcomed them, and spake to them of the kingdom of God, and them that had need of healing he cured. And the day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages and country round about, and lodge, and get provisions: for we are here in a desert place.

THE FIVE THOUSAND WERE FED

This miracle, recorded in each of the four New Testament Gospels, has received line-by-line comment in Matthew, Mark, and John, in this series of commentaries, and a somewhat more brief account will be repeated here.

City called Bethsaida ... here in a desert place ... The reference to Bethsaida is to the city nearest the grassy plain where the actual wonder took place, which is somewhat southwest of the city, and several miles distant, called Bethsaida-Julius. The audience and participants in this bounty from the Lord were Jews; and a later miracle of feeding the four thousand benefited a Gentile multitude. Thus, Christ revealed himself as the bread of life to both Jews and Gentiles. John's account gives more of the background. Long before the apostles had come to Jesus with the request to send the multitudes away, Jesus had tested Philip with a question of how the people were to be fed.