Luke 8

The Story of the Farmer

1 After this, Jesus traveled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God's kingdom. The Twelve were with him.2 So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her.3 Another was Joanna, the wife of Cuza. He was the manager of Herod's household. Susanna and many others were there also. These women were helping to support Jesus and the Twelve with their own money.
4 A large crowd gathered together. People came to Jesus from town after town. As they did, he told a story. He said,5 "A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds of the air ate it up.6 Some seed fell on rocky places. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water.7 Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants.8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted."
When Jesus said this, he called out, "Those who have ears should listen."
9 His disciples asked him what the story meant.
10 He said, "You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God's kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way,
" 'They see, but they will not know what they are seeing.
They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.' (Isaiah 6:9)
11 "Here is what the story means. The seed is God's message.12 People on the path are those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won't believe. Then they can't be saved.13 Those on the rock are the ones who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are put to the test, they fall away from the faith.14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life's worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth.
15 "But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. They hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.

A Lamp on a Stand

16 "People do not light a lamp and then hide it in a jar or put it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand. Then those who come in can see its light.17 What is hidden will be seen. And what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known.
18 "So be careful how you listen. If you have something, you will be given more. If you have nothing, even what you think you have will be taken away from you."

Jesus' Mother and Brothers

19 Jesus' mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd.20 Someone told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you."
21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and do what it says."

Jesus Calms the Storm

22 One day Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they got into a boat and left.
23 As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake. It was so bad that the boat was about to sink. They were in great danger.
24 The disciples went and woke Jesus up. They said, "Master! Master! We're going to drown!"
He got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop. The storm quieted down. It was completely calm.
25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples.
They were amazed and full of fear. They asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him."

Jesus Heals a Man Controlled by Demons

26 Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee.27 When Jesus stepped on shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.
28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, "Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don't hurt me!"
29 This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. His hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.
30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?"
"Legion," he replied, because many demons had gone into him.31 And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.
32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it.
33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.
34 Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside.35 The people went out to see what had happened.
Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus' feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid.
36 Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed.37 Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left.
38 The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him,39 "Return home and tell how much God has done for you."
So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

A Dying Girl and a Suffering Woman

40 When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him.
41 Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue ruler. He fell at Jesus' feet. He begged Jesus to come to his house.42 His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.
43 A woman was there who had a sickness that made her bleed. Her sickness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her.44 She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped.
45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked.
They all said they didn't do it. Then Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you."
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me."
47 The woman realized that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant.
48 Then he said to her, "Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace."
49 While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," the messenger said. "Don't bother the teacher anymore."
50 Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed."
51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child's father and mother.
52 During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. "Stop crying!" Jesus said. "She is not dead. She is sleeping."
53 They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.
54 But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"
55 Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.56 Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 8

1 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,3 and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.4 And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable:5 The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.6 And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.7 And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.8 And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; 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 And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.13 And those on the rock are they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.15 And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.16 And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in 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 therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.19 And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd.20 And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.21 But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it.22 Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth.23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling with water, and were in jeopardy.24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee.27 And when he was come forth upon the land, there met him a certain man out of the city, who had demons; and for a long time he had worn no clothes, and abode not in any house, but in the tombs.28 And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.29 For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him: and he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the deserts.30 And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.31 And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss.32 Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them. And he gave them leave.33 And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned.34 And when they that fed them saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.35 And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.36 And they that saw it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole.37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned.38 But the man from whom the demons were gone out prayed him that he might be with him: but he sent him away, saying,39 Return to thy house, and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him.40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him.41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him to come into his house;42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any,44 came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately the issue of her blood stanched.45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and crush thee.46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me; for I perceived that power had gone forth from me.47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.48 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole.51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.54 But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise.55 And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that something be given her to eat.56 And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.