Luke 8
Living Bible
8 Not long afterwards he began a tour of the cities and villages of Galilee[a] to announce the coming of the Kingdom of God, and took his twelve disciples with him. 2 Some women went along, from whom he had cast out demons or whom he had healed; among them were Mary Magdalene (Jesus had cast out seven demons from her), 3 Joanna, Chuza’s wife (Chuza was King Herod’s business manager and was in charge of his palace and domestic affairs), Susanna, and many others who were contributing from their private means to the support of Jesus and his disciples.
4 One day he gave this illustration to a large crowd that was gathering to hear him—while many others were still on the way, coming from other towns.
5 “A farmer went out to his field to sow grain. As he scattered the seed on the ground, some of it fell on a footpath and was trampled on; and the birds came and ate it as it lay exposed. 6 Other seed fell on shallow soil with rock beneath. This seed began to grow, but soon withered and died for lack of moisture. 7 Other seed landed in thistle patches, and the young grain stalks were soon choked out. 8 Still other fell on fertile soil; this seed grew and produced a crop one hundred times as large as he had planted.” (As he was giving this illustration he said, “If anyone has listening ears, use them now!”)
9 His apostles asked him what the story meant.
10 He replied, “God has granted you to know the meaning of these parables, for they tell a great deal about the Kingdom of God. But these crowds hear the words and do not understand, just as the ancient prophets predicted.
11 “This is its meaning: The seed is God’s message to men. 12 The hard path where some seed fell represents the hard hearts of those who hear the words of God, but then the devil comes and steals the words away and prevents people from believing and being saved. 13 The stony ground represents those who enjoy listening to sermons, but somehow the message never really gets through to them and doesn’t take root and grow. They know the message is true, and sort of believe for a while; but when the hot winds of persecution blow, they lose interest. 14 The seed among the thorns represents those who listen and believe God’s words but whose faith afterwards is choked out by worry and riches and the responsibilities and pleasures of life. And so they are never able to help anyone else to believe the Good News.
15 “But the good soil represents honest, good-hearted people. They listen to God’s words and cling to them and steadily spread them to others who also soon believe.”
16 Another time he asked,[b] “Who ever heard of someone lighting a lamp and then covering it up to keep it from shining? No, lamps are mounted in the open where they can be seen. 17 This illustrates the fact that someday everything in men’s hearts[c] shall be brought to light and made plain to all. 18 So be careful how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall be given more; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.”
19 Once when his mother and brothers came to see him, they couldn’t get into the house where he was teaching because of the crowds. 20 When Jesus heard they were standing outside and wanted to see him, 21 he remarked, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear the message of God and obey it.”
22 One day about that time, as he and his disciples were out in a boat, he suggested that they cross to the other side of the lake. 23 On the way across he lay down for a nap, and while he was sleeping the wind began to rise. A fierce storm developed that threatened to swamp them, and they were in real danger.
24 They rushed over and woke him up. “Master, Master, we are sinking!” they screamed.
So he spoke to the storm: “Quiet down,” he said, and the wind and waves subsided and all was calm! 25 Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?”
And they were filled with awe and fear of him and said to one another, “Who is this man, that even the winds and waves obey him?”
26 So they arrived at the other side, in the Gerasene country across the lake from Galilee. 27 As he was climbing out of the boat a man from the city of Gadara came to meet him, a man who had been demon-possessed for a long time. Homeless and naked, he lived in a cemetery among the tombs. 28 As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell to the ground before him, screaming, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of God Most High? Please, I beg you, oh, don’t torment me!”
29 For Jesus was already commanding the demon to leave him. This demon had often taken control of the man so that even when shackled with chains he simply broke them and rushed out into the desert, completely under the demon’s power. 30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked the demon. “Legion,” they replied—for the man was filled with thousands of them![d] 31 They kept begging Jesus not to order them into the Bottomless Pit.
32 A herd of pigs was feeding on the mountainside nearby, and the demons pled with him to let them enter into the pigs. And Jesus said they could. 33 So they left the man and went into the pigs, and immediately the whole herd rushed down the mountainside and fell over a cliff into the lake below, where they drowned. 34 The herdsmen rushed away to the nearby city, spreading the news as they ran.
35 Soon a crowd came out to see for themselves what had happened and saw the man who had been demon-possessed sitting quietly at Jesus’ feet, clothed and sane! And the whole crowd was badly frightened. 36 Then those who had seen it happen told how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 And everyone begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone (for a deep wave of fear had swept over them). So he returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake.
38 The man who had been demon-possessed begged to go too, but Jesus said no.
39 “Go back to your family,” he told him, “and tell them what a wonderful thing God has done for you.”
So he went all through the city telling everyone about Jesus’ mighty miracle.
40 On the other side of the lake the crowds received him with open arms, for they had been waiting for him.
41 And now a man named Jairus, a leader of a Jewish synagogue, came and fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come home with him, 42 for his only child was dying, a little girl twelve years old. Jesus went with him, pushing through the crowds.
43-44 As they went a woman who wanted to be healed came up behind and touched him, for she had been slowly bleeding for twelve years, and could find no cure (though she had spent everything she had on doctors[e]). But the instant she touched the edge of his robe, the bleeding stopped.
45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.
Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, so many are crowding against you. . . . ”
46 But Jesus told him, “No, it was someone who deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.”
47 When the woman realized that Jesus knew, she began to tremble and fell to her knees before him and told why she had touched him and that now she was well.
48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the Jairus’s home with the news that the little girl was dead. “She’s gone,” he told her father; “there’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
50 But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to the father, “Don’t be afraid! Just trust me, and she’ll be all right.”
51 When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone into the room except Peter, James, John, and the little girl’s father and mother. 52 The home was filled with mourning people, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she is only asleep!” 53 This brought scoffing and laughter, for they all knew she was dead.
54 Then he took her by the hand and called, “Get up, little girl!” 55 And at that moment her life returned and she jumped up! “Give her something to eat!” he said. 56 Her parents were overcome with happiness, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone the details of what had happened.
Footnotes
- Luke 8:1 and villages of Galilee, implied.
- Luke 8:16 Another time he asked, implied; see Matthew 5:16.
- Luke 8:17 in men’s hearts, implied.
- Luke 8:30 with thousands of them, implied. A legion consisted of 6,000 troops. Whether the demons were speaking literally, of course, is unknown.
- Luke 8:43 though she had spent everything she had on doctors. This clause is not included in some of the ancient manuscripts.
Luke 8
21st Century King James Version
8 And it came to pass afterward that He went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the Kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who ministered unto Him from their substance.
4 And when many people had gathered together and had come to Him out of every city, He spoke by a parable:
5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it had sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up and bore fruit a hundredfold.” And when He had said these things, He cried, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear!”
9 And His disciples asked Him, saying, “What might this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God; but to others in parables, that ‘seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.’
11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the Word of God.
12 Those by the wayside are they that hear; then cometh the devil and taketh away the Word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 The seed on the rock are they that, when they hear, receive the Word with joy, but they have no root: they for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they that, when they have heard, go forth and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But that on the good ground are they that, in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 “No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel or putteth it under a bed, but setteth it on a candlestick, that they that enter in may see the light.
17 For nothing is secret that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 Take heed therefore how ye hear, for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.”
19 Then came to Him His mother and His brethren, and could not come near Him because of the crowd.
20 And it was told to Him by certain ones, who said, “Thy mother and thy brethren stand outside, desiring to see thee.”
21 And He answered and said unto them, “My mother and My brethren are these who hear the Word of God, and do it.”
22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a boat with 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!” Then He arose, 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 they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, “What manner of man is this? For He commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”
26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27 And when He went forth to land, there met Him from the city a certain man who had had devils a long time, and wore no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.
28 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 God Most High? I beseech Thee, torment me not!”
29 (For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he broke the bands and was driven by the devil into the wilderness.)
30 And Jesus asked him, saying, “What is thy name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many devils had entered into him.
31 And they besought Him that He would not command them to go out into the deep.
32 And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain. And they besought Him that He would suffer them to enter into them. And He suffered them.
33 Then went the devils out of the man and entered into the swine, and the herd ran violently down a steep slope into the lake and were choked.
34 When those who fed them saw what was done, they fled and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 Then they went out to see what was done. And they came to Jesus, and found the man out of whom the devils had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. And they were afraid.
36 Those also who had seen it told them by what means he that had been possessed by the devils was healed.
37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes and round about besought Him to depart from them, for they were taken with great fear. And He went up into the boat, and returned back again.
38 Now the man out of whom the devils had departed besought Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “Return to thine own house, and show what great things God hath done unto thee.” And he went his way, and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.
40 And it came to pass that when Jesus had returned, the people gladly received 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 that He would come into his house,
42 for he had one daughter only, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. But as He went, the people thronged Him.
43 And a woman having an issue of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians but could not be healed by any,
44 came behind Him and touched the border of His garment; and immediately her issue of blood was stanched.
45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those who were with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng Thee and press Thee, and sayest Thou, ‘Who touched Me?’”
46 And Jesus said, “Somebody hath touched Me, for I perceive that virtue is gone out of Me.”
47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before Him, she declared unto Him before all the people for what cause she had touched Him, and how she was healed immediately.
48 And He said unto her, “Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. Go in peace.”
49 While He yet spoke, there came one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Thy daughter is dead. Trouble not the Master.”
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Fear not; believe only, and she shall be made whole.”
51 And when He came into the house, He suffered no man to go in save Peter and James and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 And all wept and bewailed her, but He said, “Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.”
53 And they laughed Him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 And He put them all out, and took her by the hand and called, saying, “Maid, arise.”
55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway, and He commanded to give her meat.
56 And her parents were astonished, but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.
Luke 8
New King James Version
Many Women Minister to Jesus
8 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and [a]bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him, 2 and (A)certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and [b]infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, (B)out of whom had come seven demons, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for [c]Him from their [d]substance.
The Parable of the Sower(C)
4 (D)And when a great multitude had gathered, and they had come to Him from every city, He spoke by a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside; and it was trampled down, and the birds of the air devoured it. 6 Some fell on rock; and as soon as it sprang up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. 8 But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded [e]a crop a hundredfold.” When He had said these things He cried, (E)“He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
The Purpose of Parables(F)
9 (G)Then His disciples asked Him, saying, “What does this parable mean?”
10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the [f]mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that
(H)‘Seeing they may not see,
And hearing they may not understand.’
The Parable of the Sower Explained(I)
11 (J)“Now the parable is this: The seed is the (K)word of God. 12 Those by the wayside are the ones who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. 13 But the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a while and in time of [g]temptation fall away. 14 Now the ones that fell among thorns are those who, when they have heard, go out and are choked with cares, (L)riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15 But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with (M)patience.[h]
The Parable of the Revealed Light(N)
16 (O)“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the (P)light. 17 (Q)For nothing is secret that will not be (R)revealed, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light. 18 Therefore take heed how you hear. (S)For whoever has, to him more will be given; and whoever does not have, even what he [i]seems to (T)have will be taken from him.”
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers Come to Him(U)
19 (V)Then His mother and brothers came to Him, and could not approach Him because of the crowd. 20 And it was told Him by some, who said, “Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see You.”
21 But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
Wind and Wave Obey Jesus(W)
22 (X)Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out. 23 But as they sailed He fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water, and were in [j]jeopardy. 24 And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”
Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 But He said to them, (Y)“Where is your faith?”
And they were afraid, and marveled, saying to one another, (Z)“Who can this be? For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him!”
A Demon-Possessed Man Healed(AA)
26 (AB)Then they sailed to the country of the [k]Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons [l]for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he (AC)cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, (AD)“What have I to do with (AE)You, Jesus, Son of the 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 often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.
30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”
And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out (AF)into the abyss.
32 Now a herd of many (AG)swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.
34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, (AH)sitting at the (AI)feet of Jesus, clothed and in his (AJ)right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was [m]healed. 37 (AK)Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the [n]Gadarenes (AL)asked Him to (AM)depart from them, for they were seized with great (AN)fear. And He got into the boat and returned.
38 Now (AO)the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.
A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed
40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him. 41 (AP)And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged Him to come to his house, 42 for he had an only daughter about twelve years of age, and she (AQ)was dying.
But as He went, the multitudes thronged Him. 43 (AR)Now a woman, having a (AS)flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her livelihood on physicians and could not be healed by any, 44 came from behind and (AT)touched the border of His garment. And immediately her flow of blood stopped.
45 And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?”
When all denied it, Peter [o]and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, [p]and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
46 But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived (AU)power going out from Me.” 47 Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.
48 And He said to her, “Daughter, [q]be of good cheer; (AV)your faith has made you well. (AW)Go in peace.”
49 (AX)While He was still speaking, someone came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the [r]Teacher.”
50 But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; (AY)only believe, and she will be made well.” 51 When He came into the house, He permitted no one to go [s]in except [t]Peter, James, and John, and the father and mother of the girl. 52 Now all wept and mourned for her; but He said, (AZ)“Do not weep; she is not dead, (BA)but sleeping.” 53 And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
54 But He [u]put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, (BB)arise.” 55 Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat. 56 And her parents were astonished, but (BC)He charged them to tell no one what had happened.
Footnotes
- Luke 8:1 proclaiming the good news
- Luke 8:2 sicknesses
- Luke 8:3 NU, M them
- Luke 8:3 possessions
- Luke 8:8 Lit. fruit
- Luke 8:10 secret or hidden truths
- Luke 8:13 testing
- Luke 8:15 endurance
- Luke 8:18 thinks that he has
- Luke 8:23 danger
- Luke 8:26 NU Gerasenes
- Luke 8:27 NU and for a long time wore no clothes
- Luke 8:36 delivered
- Luke 8:37 NU Gerasenes
- Luke 8:45 NU omits and those with him
- Luke 8:45 NU omits the rest of v. 45.
- Luke 8:48 NU omits be of good cheer
- Luke 8:49 NU adds anymore
- Luke 8:51 NU adds with Him
- Luke 8:51 NU, M Peter, John, and James
- Luke 8:54 NU omits put them all outside
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Copyright © 1994 by Deuel Enterprises, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
