Accordingly at a somewhat early period, as it would seem, in the afternoon[331], He enquired of the Apostle Philip where bread might be bought to satisfy the hunger of the multitudes (Jn. vi. 5). Though _He Himself knew what He would do_, He put this question to prove the trust of the Apostle. But Philip, thinking of no other supplies save such as natural means could procure, replied that _two hundred pence_ (or rather _denarii_) would not be sufficient to procure sustenance for such a number (Jn. vi. 7). Having thus obtained from his own mouth a confession of the inability of all human power to satisfy the present need, the Holy One left “the difficulty and perplexity to work in his mind and the minds of the Apostles[332],” and thus prepare them for what He was about to do. As the evening, however, drew on (Mtt. xiv. 15; Lk. ix. 12) the disciples approached Him, and drawing His attention to the desert[333] character of the locality, proposed that He should send away the multitudes, in order that they might seek refreshment in the neighbouring towns and villages. To this He replied that _they need not depart_ (Mtt. xiv. 16), and bade _them_ supply their needs, and when, reiterating the assertion[334] of Philip, they declared how impossible it was to do such a thing, He sent them to see what supplies they had. Returning they informed Him that from a lad in their company they had been enabled to procure _five barley loaves and two small fishes_ (Jn. vi. 9), and were thereupon bidden to marshal the multitudes _in companies_[335] amid the green grass of the rich plain around. This done, He took the loaves and the two fishes and _looking up to heaven He blessed_, and brake, and gave of the food to the Apostles, who in their turn distributed to the different groups, till _they did all eat and were filled_. When the wondrous meal was over, the Holy One, who, as the Lord of nature, ever “makes the most prodigal bounty go hand in hand with the nicest and truest economy,” bade the disciples _gather up the fragments that remained, that nothing might be lost_, and though 5000 men _besides women and children_ (Mtt. xiv. 21) had eaten and been satisfied, yet they took up twelve baskets full of fragments that still remained over and above (Mtt. xiv. 20; Mk. vi. 43; Jn. vi. 13). The impression made upon the people by this miracle was profound. It was the popular expectation that the Messiah would repeat the miracles of Moses[336], and this “bread of wonder,” of which they had partaken, vividly recalled to the minds of the multitude their great Lawgiver, who had given their fathers manna in the wilderness. They were convinced, therefore, that the Holy One was none other than the Prophet, of whom Moses had spoken (Deut. xviii. 15), and in this conviction would have taken _Him by force and made Him a king_ (Jn. vi. 14,15).