Jesus Calms the Storm^(A)(B)

²³ Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. ²⁵ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”

²⁶ He replied, “You of little faith,^(C) why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.^(D)

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

Jesus Restores Two Demon-Possessed Men^(E)

²⁸ When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes,^[a] two demon-possessed^(F) men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ “What do you want with us,^(G) Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”^(H)

³⁰ Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. ³³ Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. ³⁴ Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.^(I)

Jesus Forgives and Heals a Paralyzed Man^(J)

9 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town.^{(K) 2} Some men brought to him a paralyzed man,^(L) lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith,^(M) he said to the man, “Take heart,^(N) son; your sins are forgiven.”^(O)

³ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”^(P)

⁴ Knowing their thoughts,^(Q) Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? ⁵ Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But I want you to know that the Son of Man^(R) has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” ⁷ Then the man got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God,^(S) who had given such authority to man.

The Calling of Matthew^(T)

⁹ As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,”^(U) he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

¹⁰ While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”^(V)

¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[b](W) For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”^(X)