Chapter 7

Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant

1 aWhen He had completed all His discourse in the hearing of the people, bHe went to Capernaum.

2 And a centurion’s slave, 1who was highly regarded by him, was sick and about to die.

3 When he heard about Jesus, ahe sent some 1Jewish elders asking Him to come and 2save the life of his slave.

4 When they came to Jesus, they earnestly implored Him, saying, “He is worthy for You to grant this to him;

5 for he loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.”

6 Now Jesus started on His way with them; and when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to Him, “1Lord, do not trouble Yourself further, for I am not worthy for You to come under my roof;

7 for this reason I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just 1say the word, and my 2servant will be healed.

8 “For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”

9 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, anot even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

10 When those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the slave in good health.

11 Soon afterwards He went to a city called Nain; and His disciples were going along with Him, 1accompanied by a large crowd.

12 Now as He approached the gate of the city, 1a dead man was being carried out, the 2only son of his mother, and she was a widow; and a sizeable crowd from the city was with her.

13 When athe Lord saw her, He felt compassion for her, and said to her, “1Do not weep.”

14 And He came up and touched the coffin; and the bearers came to a halt. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise!”

15 The 1dead man sat up and began to speak. And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 aFear gripped them all, and they began bglorifying God, saying, “A great cprophet has arisen among us!” and, “God has 1visited His people!”

17 aThis report concerning Him went out all over Judea and in all the surrounding district.

A Deputation from John

18 aThe disciples of John reported to him about all these things.

19 Summoning 1two of his disciples, John sent them to athe Lord, saying, “Are You the 2Expected One, or do we look for someone else?”

20 When the men came to Him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the 1Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’ ”

21 At that 1very time He acured many people of diseases and bafflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind.

22 And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the ablind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the bpoor have the gospel preached to them.

23 “Blessed is he 1who does not take offense at Me.”

24 When the messengers of John had left, He began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?

25 “1But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft 2clothing? Those who are splendidly clothed and live in luxury are found in royal palaces!

26 “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and one who is more than a prophet.

27 “This is the one about whom it is written,

‘aBehold, I send My messenger 1ahead of You,

Who will prepare Your way before You.’

28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is 1least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

29 When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they 1acknowledged aGod’s justice, bhaving been baptized with cthe baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and the 1alawyers rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been baptized by 2John.

31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like?

32 “They are like children who sit in the market place and call to one another, and they say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

33 “For John the Baptist has come aeating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

34 “The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a gluttonous man and a 1drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and 2sinners!’

35 “Yet wisdom ais vindicated by all her children.”

36 Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to 1dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

37 aAnd there was a woman in the city who was a 1sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume,

38 and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were aa prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a 1sinner.”

Parable of Two Debtors

40 And Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he 1replied, “Say it, Teacher.”

41 “A moneylender had two debtors: one owed five hundred 1adenarii, and the other fifty.

42 “When they awere unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon answered and said, “I suppose the one whom he forgave more.” And He said to him, “You have judged correctly.”

44 Turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you agave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

45 “You agave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet.

46 “aYou did not anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume.

47 “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

48 Then He said to her, “aYour sins have been forgiven.”

49 Those who were reclining at the table with Him began to say 1to themselves, “aWho is this man who even forgives sins?”

50 And He said to the woman, “aYour faith has saved you; bgo in peace.”

Chapter 8

Ministering Women

1 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,

2 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,

3 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.

Parable of the Sower

4 aWhen a large crowd was coming together, and those from the various cities were journeying to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

5 “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.

6 “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 “Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

8 “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.”

9 aHis disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

10 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.

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

12 “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.

13 “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.

14 “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.

15 “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.

Parable of the Lamp

16 “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.

17 “aFor nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

18 “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.”

19 aAnd His mother and brothers came to Him, and they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd.

20 And it was reported to Him, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see You.”

21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these awho hear the word of God and do it.”

Jesus Stills the Sea

22 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.

23 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.

24 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.

25 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?”

The Demoniac Cured

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

27 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.

28 Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, “1aWhat business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of bthe Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me.”

29 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.

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

31 They were imploring Him not to command them to go away into athe abyss.

32 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.

33 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.

34 When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country.

35 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.

36 Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was ademon-possessed had been 1made well.

37 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.

38 aBut the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging Him that he might 1accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,

39 “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.

Miracles of Healing

40 aAnd as Jesus returned, the 1people welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

41 aAnd there came a man named Jairus, and he was an 1bofficial of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus’ feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;

42 for he had an 1only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. But as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.

43 And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,

44 came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His 1cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.

45 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.”

46 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch Me, for I was aware that apower had gone out of Me.”

47 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.

48 And He said to her, “Daughter, ayour faith has 1made you well; bgo in peace.”

49 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.”

50 But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, “aDo not be afraid any longer; only believe, and she will be 1made well.”

51 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.

52 Now they were all weeping and alamenting for her; but He said, “Stop weeping, for she has not died, but bis asleep.”

53 And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

54 He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Child, arise!”

55 And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders for something to be given her to eat.

56 Her parents were amazed; but He ainstructed them to tell no one what had happened.

Chapter 9

Ministry of the Twelve

1 aAnd He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.

2 And He sent them out to aproclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.

3 And He said to them, “aTake nothing for your journey, bneither a staff, nor a 1bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have 2two tunics apiece.

4 “Whatever house you enter, stay there 1until you leave that city.

5 “And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, ashake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.”

6 Departing, they began going 1throughout the villages, apreaching the gospel and healing everywhere.

7 aNow bHerod the tetrarch heard of all that was happening; and he was greatly perplexed, because it was said by some that cJohn had risen from the dead,

8 and by some that aElijah had appeared, and by others that one of the prophets of old had risen again.

9 Herod said, “I myself had John beheaded; but who is this man about whom I hear such things?” And ahe kept trying to see Him.

10 aWhen the apostles returned, they gave an account to Him of all that they had done. bTaking them with Him, He withdrew by Himself to a city called cBethsaida.

11 But the crowds were aware of this and followed Him; and welcoming them, He began speaking to them about the kingdom of God and curing those who had need of healing.

Five Thousand Fed

12 Now the day 1was ending, and the twelve came and said to Him, “Send the crowd away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging and get 2something to eat; for here we are in a desolate place.”

13 But He said to them, “You give them something to eat!” And they said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless perhaps we go and buy food for all these people.”

14 (For there were about five thousand men.) And He said to His disciples, “Have them 1sit down to eat ain groups of about fifty each.”

15 They did so, and had them all 1sit down.

16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed them, and broke them, and kept giving them to the disciples to set before the 1people.

17 And they all ate and were satisfied; and 1the broken pieces which they had left over were picked up, twelve abaskets full.

18 aAnd it happened that while He was bpraying alone, the disciples were with Him, and He questioned them, saying, “Who do the 1people say that I am?”

19 They answered and said, “John the Baptist, and others say Elijah; but others, that one of the prophets of old has risen again.”

20 And He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” And Peter answered and said, “aThe 1Christ of God.”

21 But He 1awarned them and instructed them not to tell this to anyone,

22 asaying, “bThe Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed and be raised up on the third day.”

23 And He was saying to them all, “aIf anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

24 “For awhoever wishes to save his 1life will lose it, but whoever loses his 1life for My sake, he is the one who will save it.

25 “For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and aloses or forfeits himself?

26 “aFor whoever is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory, and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

27 “But I say to you truthfully, athere are some of those standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”

The Transfiguration

28 aSome eight days after these sayings, He took along bPeter and John and James, and cwent up on the mountain dto pray.

29 And while He was apraying, the appearance of His face bbecame different, and His clothing became white and 1gleaming.

30 And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah,

31 who, appearing in 1glory, were speaking of His adeparture which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and his companions ahad been overcome with sleep; but when they were fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men standing with Him.

33 And as 1these were leaving Him, Peter said to Jesus, “aMaster, it is good for us to be here; blet us make three 2tabernacles: one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—cnot realizing what he was saying.

34 While he was saying this, a cloud 1formed and began to overshadow them; and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

35 Then aa voice came out of the cloud, saying, “bThis is My Son, My Chosen One; listen to Him!”

36 And when the voice 1had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And athey kept silent, and reported to no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

37 aOn the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him.

38 And a man from the crowd shouted, saying, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my 1only boy,

39 and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.

40 “I begged Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not.”

41 And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

42 While he was still approaching, the demon 1slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all amazed at the 1agreatness of God.

bBut while everyone was marveling at all that He was doing, He said to His disciples,

44 “Let these words sink into your ears; afor the Son of Man is going to be 1delivered into the hands of men.”

45 But athey 1did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.

The Test of Greatness

46 aAn argument 1started among them as to which of them might be the greatest.

47 But Jesus, aknowing 1what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side,

48 and said to them, “aWhoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; bfor the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.”

49 aJohn answered and said, “bMaster, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow along with us.”

50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not hinder him; afor he who is not against you is 1for you.”

51 When the days were approaching for aHis 1ascension, He 2was determined bto go to Jerusalem;

52 and He sent messengers on ahead of Him, and they went and entered a village of the aSamaritans to 1make arrangements for Him.

53 But they did not receive Him, abecause 1He was traveling toward Jerusalem.

54 When His disciples aJames and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to bcommand fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”

55 But He turned and rebuked them, [1and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of;

56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village.

Exacting Discipleship

57 aAs they were going along the road, bsomeone said to Him, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the 1air have 2nests, but athe Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”

59 And He said to another, “aFollow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and aproclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.”

61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but afirst permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”

62 But Jesus said to him, “aNo one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”