New Living Translation

English Standard Version

1Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him,

1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him,

2along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons;

2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed

3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

4One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him:

4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable,

5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it.

5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it.

6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture.

6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants.

7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it.

8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.”

8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.

9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,

10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’

10he 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 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word.

11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved.

12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation.

13And 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 testing fall away.

14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity.

14And 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 the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Parable of the Lamp

15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house.

16“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light.

17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all.

17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” The True Family of Jesus

18Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.”

19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd.

19Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.

20Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.”

20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”

21Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Jesus Calms the Storm

21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out.

22One 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,

23As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger.

23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger.

24The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

24And 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.

25Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man

25He 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 winds and water, and they obey him?”

26So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town.

27When Jesus had 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 had not lived in a house but among the tombs.

28As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!”

28When 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 beg you, do not torment me.”

29For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power.

29For 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 shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.)

30Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons.

30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him.

31The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit.

31And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss.

32There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission.

32Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.

33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

34When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran.

34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.

35People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.

35Then 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.

36Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

36And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

37And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.

37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned.

38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying,

38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Jesus Heals in Response to Faith

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.

40On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him.

40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.

41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him.

41And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house,

42His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds.

42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.

43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure.

43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.

44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped.

44She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.”

45And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”

46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”

46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.”

47When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

47And 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 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”

48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.”

49While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”

49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.”

50But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.”

50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”

51When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother.

51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child.

52The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.”

52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.”

53But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.

53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.

54Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!”

54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.”

55And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

55And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat.

56Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened.

56And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.