On returning from their missionary tour, "the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And He said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat."

Dette kapitel er bygget op over Matt 14,1.2.12.13; Mark 6,30-32; Luk 9,7-10

Da disciplene var vendt tilbage fra deres missionsvandring, samler de sig om Jesus, og de fortalte ham om alt det, de havde udrettet, og hvad de havde lært folk. Og han siger til dem: "Kom I nu med til et øde sted, så I kan være ene og hvile jer lidt; "thi der var mange, som kom og gik, og de havde ikke engang ro til at spise."