[1] Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, preaching and
bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,
[2] and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary, called Mag'dalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
[3] and Joan'na, the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many
others, who provided for them out of their means. [4] And when a great
crowd came together and people from town after town came to him, he said in
a parable: [5] "A sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some
fell along the path, and was trodden under foot, and the birds of the air
devoured it. [6] And some fell on the rock; and as it grew up, it withered
away, because it had no moisture. [7] And some fell among thorns; and the
thorns grew with it and choked it. [8] And some fell into good soil and
grew, and yielded a hundredfold." As he said this, he called out, "He who
has ears to hear, let him hear." [9] And when his disciples asked him what
this parable meant, [10] he said, "To you it has been given to know the
secrets of the kingdom of God; but for others they are in parables, so that
seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand. [11] Now the
parable is this: The seed is the word of God. [12] The ones along the path
are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from
their hearts, that they may not believe and be saved. [13] And the ones on
the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy; but
these have no root, they believe for a while and in time of temptation fall
away. [14] And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear,
but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and
pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. [15] And as for that in
the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an
honest and good heart, and bring forth fruit with patience. [16] "No one
after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but
puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light. [17] For
nothing is hid that shall not be made manifest, nor anything secret that
shall not be known and come to light. [18] Take heed then how you hear; for
to him who has will more be given, and from him who has not, even what he
thinks that he has will be taken away." [19] Then his mother and his
brothers came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd. [20] And
he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring
to see you." [21] But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are those
who hear the word of God and do it." [22] One day he got into a boat with
his disciples, and he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side of
the lake." So they set out, [23] and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a
storm of wind came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and
were in danger. [24] And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master,
we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves;
and they ceased, and there was a calm. [25] He said to them, "Where is your
faith?" And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another,
"Who then is this, that he commands even wind and water, and they obey
him?" [26] Then they arrived at the country of the Ger'asenes, which is
opposite Galilee. [27] And as he stepped out on land, there met him a man
from the city who had demons; for a long time he had worn no clothes, and
he lived not in a house but among the tombs. [28] When he saw Jesus, he
cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, "What have
you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you, do not
torment me." [29] For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of
the man. (For many a time it had seized him; he was kept under guard, and
bound with chains and fetters, but he broke the bonds and was driven by the
demon into the desert.) [30] Jesus then asked him, "What is your name?" And
he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him. [31] And they begged
him not to command them to depart into the abyss. [32] Now a large herd of
swine was feeding there on the hillside; and they begged him to let them
enter these. So he gave them leave. [33] Then the demons came out of the
man and entered the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the
lake and were drowned. [34] When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they
fled, and told it in the city and in the country. [35] Then people went out
to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus, and found the man from
whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his
right mind; and they were afraid. [36] And those who had seen it told them
how he who had been possessed with demons was healed. [37] Then all the
people of the surrounding country of the Ger'asenes asked him to depart
from them; for they were seized with great fear; so he got into the boat
and returned. [38] The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he
might be with him; but he sent him away, saying, [39] "Return to your home,
and declare how much God has done for you." And he went away, proclaiming
throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. [40] Now when
Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.
[41] And there came a man named Ja'irus, who was a ruler of the synagogue;
and falling at Jesus' feet he besought him to come to his house, [42] for
he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As
he went, the people pressed round him. [43] And a woman who had had a flow
of blood for twelve years and could not be healed by any one, [44] came up
behind him, and touched the fringe of his garment; and immediately her flow
of blood ceased. [45] And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When
all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the multitudes surround you and press
upon you!" [46] But Jesus said, "Some one touched me; for I perceive that
power has gone forth from me." [47] And when the woman saw that she was not
hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the
presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been
immediately healed. [48] And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made
you well; go in peace." [49] While he was still speaking, a man from the
ruler's house came and said, "Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the
Teacher any more." [50] But Jesus on hearing this answered him, "Do not
fear; only believe, and she shall be well." [51] And when he came to the
house, he permitted no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and
James, and the father and mother of the child. [52] And all were weeping
and bewailing her; but he said, "Do not weep; for she is not dead but
sleeping." [53] And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. [54]
But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise." [55] And her
spirit returned, and she got up at once; and he directed that something
should be given her to eat. [56] And her parents were amazed; but he
charged them to tell no one what had happened.
