Soon afterwards, He began going
around
from one city
and village
to another
, aproclaiming
and preaching
the kingdom
of God
. The twelve
were with Him,
and also asome women
who
had been
healed
of evil
spirits
and sicknesses
: bMary
who was called
Magdalene
, from whom
seven
demons
had gone
out,
and Joanna the wife
of Chuza
, aHerod's
bsteward
, and Susanna
, and many
others
who
were contributing
to their support
out of their private
means
.
aWhen a large crowd
was coming
together
, and those
from the various
cities
were journeying
to Him, He spoke
by way
of a parable
:
"The sower went
out to sow
his seed
; and as he sowed
, some
fell
beside
the road
, and it was trampled
under
foot
and the birds
of the 1air
ate
it up.
"Other seed fell
on rocky
soil, and as soon as it grew
up, it withered
away
, because
it had
no
moisture
.
"Other seed fell
among
the thorns
; and the thorns
grew
up with it and choked
it out.
"Other seed fell
into the good
soil
, and grew
up, and produced
a crop
a hundred
times
as great
." As He said
these
things
, He would call
out, " aHe who has
ears
to hear
, 1let him hear
."
aHis disciples began questioning
Him as to what
this
parable
meant
.
And He said, " aTo you it has been granted
to know
the mysteries
of the kingdom
of God
, but to the rest
it is in parables
, so
that bSEEING
THEY MAY NOT SEE
, AND HEARING
THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND
.
"Now the parable
is this
: athe seed
is the word
of God
.
"Those beside
the road
are those
who have heard
; then
the devil
comes
and takes
away
the word
from their heart
, so
that they will not believe
and be saved
.
"Those on the rocky soil are those who
, when
they hear
, receive
the word
with joy
; and these
have
no
firm root
; 1they believe
for a while
, and in time
of temptation
fall
away
.
"The seed which fell among
the thorns
, these
are the ones who have heard
, and as they go
on their way
they are choked
with worries
and riches
and pleasures
of this life
, and bring
no
fruit
to maturity
.
"But the seed in the good soil
, these
are the ones who
have heard
the word
in an honest
and good
heart
, and hold
it fast
, and bear
fruit
with 1perseverance
.
"Now ano
one
after lighting
a lamp
covers
it over with a container
, or
puts
it under
a bed
; but he puts
it on a lampstand
, so
that those
who come
in may see
the light
.
" aFor nothing is hidden
that will not become
evident
, nor
anything secret
that will not be known
and come
to light
.
"So take
care
how
you listen
; afor whoever
has
, to him more shall be given
; and whoever
does not have
, even
what
he 1thinks
he has
shall be taken
away
from him."
aAnd His mother and brothers
came
to Him, and they were unable
to get
to Him because
of the crowd
.
And it was reported to Him, "Your mother
and Your brothers
are standing
outside
, wishing
to see
You."
But He answered and said
to them, "My mother
and My brothers
are these
awho hear
the word
of God
and do
it."
aNow on one
of those days
Jesus and His disciples
got
into a boat
, and He said
to them, "Let us go
over
to the other
side
of bthe lake
." So
they launched
out.
But as they were sailing along He fell
asleep
; and a fierce
gale
of wind
descended
on athe lake
, and they began to be swamped
and to be in danger
.
They came to Jesus and woke
Him up, saying
, " aMaster
, Master
, we are perishing
!" And He got
up and brebuked
the wind
and the surging
waves
, and they stopped
, and 1it became
calm
.
And He said to them, "Where
is your faith
?" They were fearful
and amazed
, saying
to one
another
, "Who
then
is this
, that He commands
even
the winds
and the water
, and they obey
Him?"
aThen they sailed
to the country
of the Gerasenes
, which
is opposite
Galilee
.
And when He came out onto
the land
, He was met
by a man
from the city
who was possessed
with demons
; and who had not put
on any clothing
for a long
time
, and was not living
in a house
, but in the tombs
.
Seeing Jesus
, he cried
out and fell
before
Him, and said
in a loud
voice
, " 1 aWhat
business do we have with each other, Jesus
, Son
of bthe Most
High
God
? I beg
You, do not torment
me."
For He had commanded the unclean
spirit
to come
out of the man
. For it had seized
him many
times
; and he was bound
with chains
and shackles
and kept
under
guard
, and yet he would break
his bonds
and be driven
by the demon
into the desert
.
And Jesus asked
him, "What
is your name
?" And he said
, " aLegion
"; for many
demons
had entered
him.
They were imploring Him not to command
them to go
away
into athe abyss
.
Now there was a herd
of many
swine
feeding
there
on the mountain
; and the demons implored
Him to permit
them to enter
1the swine. And He gave
them permission
.
And the demons came
out of the man
and entered
the swine
; and the herd
rushed
down
the steep
bank
into athe lake
and was drowned
.
When the herdsmen saw
what had happened
, they ran
away
and reported
it in the city
and out in the country
.
The people went out to see
what had happened
; and they came
to Jesus
, and found
the man
from whom
the demons
had gone
out, sitting
down
aat the feet
of Jesus
, clothed
and in his right
mind
; and they became frightened
.
Those who had seen
it reported
to them how
the man who was ademon-possessed
had been 1made
well
.
And all the people
of the country
of the Gerasenes
and the surrounding
district
asked
Him to leave
them, for they were gripped
with great
fear
; and He got
into a boat
and returned
.
aBut the man from whom
the demons
had gone
out was begging
Him that he might 1accompany
Him; but He sent
him away
, saying
,
"Return to your house
and describe
what
great
things
God
has done
for you." So
he went
away
, proclaiming
throughout
the whole
city
what
great
things
Jesus
had done
for him.
aAnd as Jesus returned
, the 1people
welcomed
Him, for they had all
been
waiting
for Him.
aAnd there came a man
named
Jairus
, and he was an 1 bofficial
of the synagogue
; and he fell
at Jesus'
feet
, and began to implore
Him to come
to his house
;
for he had an 1only
daughter
, about
twelve
years
old, and she was dying
. But as He went
, the crowds
were pressing
against
Him.
And a woman who had
a hemorrhage
for twelve
years
, and could
not be healed
by anyone
,
came up behind
Him and touched
the fringe
of His 1cloak
, and immediately
her hemorrhage
stopped
.
And Jesus said
, "Who
is the one who touched
Me?" And while they were all
denying
it, Peter
said
, " aMaster
, the 1people
are crowding
and pressing
in on You."
But Jesus said
, "Someone
did touch
Me, for I was aware
that apower
had gone
out of Me."
When the woman saw
that she had not escaped
notice
, she came
trembling
and fell
down
before
Him, and declared
in the presence
of all
the people
the reason
why
she had touched
Him, and how
she had been immediately
healed
.
And He said to her, "Daughter
, ayour faith
has 1made
you well
; bgo
in peace
."
While He was still speaking
, someone
*came
from the house of athe synagogue
official
, saying
, "Your daughter
has died
; do not trouble
the Teacher
anymore
."
But when Jesus heard
this, He answered
him, " aDo not be afraid
any longer; only
believe
, and she will be 1made
well
."
When He came to the house
, He did not allow
anyone
to enter
with Him, except
Peter
and John
and James
, and the girl's
father
and mother
.
Now they were all
weeping
and alamenting
for her; but He said
, "Stop
weeping
, for she has not died
, but bis asleep
."
And they began laughing at Him, knowing
that she had died
.
He, however, took
her by the hand
and called
, saying
, "Child
, arise
!"
And her spirit returned
, and she got
up immediately
; and He gave
orders
for something to be given
her to eat
.
Her parents were amazed
; but He ainstructed
them to tell
no
one
what had happened
.