Luke 8

1After this, Jesus traveled through cities and villages, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him,

2And also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had come out;

3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were supporting Jesus and the disciples out of their own resources.

4While a large crowd was gathering, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, He told this teaching story:

5A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering it, some fell along the path. It was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.

6Some fell on rocky ground, and as soon as it came up, it withered because it had no moisture.

7Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked the plants.

8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and produced a crop, a hundred times what was sown. When He said this, He called out: Anyone who has ears to hear should listen.

9His disciples asked Him what this teaching story meant.

10Jesus said: The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others it comes in teaching stories, so that though seeing, they may not see, and though hearing, they may not understand.

11This is the meaning of the teaching story: The seed is the word of God.

12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

13Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.

14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature.

15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.

16No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.

17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known and brought out into the open.

18So pay attention to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, and whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.

19Jesus' mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were not able to get near Him because of the crowd.

20Someone told Him: Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.

21He replied: My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice.

22One day Jesus said to His disciples: Let us go over to the other side of the lake. So they got into a boat and set out.

23As they sailed, He fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24The disciples went and woke Him, saying: Master, Master, we are going to drown! He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters. They died down, and it was calm.

25Where is your faith? He asked His disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another: Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him.

26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

27When Jesus stepped ashore, a man from the town who was possessed by demons met Him. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.

28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at His feet, shouting at the top of his voice: What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torture me!

29For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.

30Jesus asked him: What is your name? Legion, he replied, because many demons had gone into him.

31And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.

32A large herd of pigs was feeding on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and He gave them permission.

33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,

35And the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So He got into the boat and left.

38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39Return home and tell how much God has done for you. So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed Him, for they were all expecting Him.

41A man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with Him to come to his house,

42Because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on His way, the crowds almost crushed Him.

43A woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her.

44She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

45Who touched me? Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said: Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.

46But Jesus said: Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.

47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at His feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched Him and how she had been instantly healed.

48Then He said to her: Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.

49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader, and said: Your daughter is dead. Do not bother the teacher anymore.

50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus: Do not be afraid. Just believe, and she will be healed.

51When He arrived at the house, He did not let anyone go in with Him except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother.

52Everyone was weeping and mourning for her, but Jesus said: Stop weeping. She is not dead but asleep.

53They laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

54But Jesus took her by the hand and said: My child, get up!

55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.

56Her parents were astonished, but He ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.