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A Man with Evil Spirits

(Matthew 8.28-34; Luke 8.26-39)

Jesus and his disciples crossed Lake Galilee and came to shore near the town of Gerasa.[a] When he was getting out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit quickly ran to him from the graveyard[b] where he had been living. No one was able to tie the man up anymore, not even with a chain. He had often been put in chains and leg irons, but he broke the chains and smashed the leg irons. No one could control him. Night and day he was in the graveyard or on the hills, yelling and cutting himself with stones.

When the man saw Jesus in the distance, he ran up to him and knelt down. He shouted, “Jesus, Son of God in heaven, what do you want with me? Promise me in God's name that you won't torture me!” The man said this because Jesus had already told the evil spirit to come out of him.

Jesus asked, “What is your name?”

The man answered, “My name is Lots, because I have ‘lots’ of evil spirits.” 10 He then begged Jesus not to send them away.

11 Over on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. 12 So the evil spirits begged Jesus, “Send us into those pigs! Let us go into them.” 13 Jesus let them go, and they went out of the man and into the pigs. The whole herd of about 2,000 pigs rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

14 The men taking care of the pigs ran to the town and the farms to spread the news. Then the people came out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had once been full of demons. He was sitting there with his clothes on and in his right mind, and they were terrified.

16 Everyone who had seen what had happened told about the man and the pigs. 17 Then the people started begging Jesus to leave their part of the country.

18 When Jesus was getting into the boat, the man begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus would not let him. Instead, he said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you and how good he has been to you.”

20 The man went away into the region near the ten cities known as Decapolis[c] and began telling everyone how much Jesus had done for him. Everyone who heard what had happened was amazed.

A Dying Girl and a Sick Woman

(Matthew 9.18-26; Luke 8.40-56)

21 Once again Jesus got into the boat and crossed Lake Galilee.[d] Then as he stood on the shore, a large crowd gathered around him. 22 The person in charge of the synagogue was also there. His name was Jairus, and when he saw Jesus, he went over to him. He knelt at Jesus' feet 23 and started begging him for help. He said, “My little daughter is about to die! Please come and touch her, so she will get well and live.” 24 Jesus went with Jairus. Many people followed along and kept crowding around.

25 In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. 26 (A) She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.

27 The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes. 28 She had said to herself, “If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” 29 As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was healed.

30 At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

31 His disciples said to him, “Look at all these people crowding around you! How can you ask who touched you?” 32 But Jesus turned to see who had touched him.

33 The woman knew what had happened to her. So she came trembling with fear and knelt down in front of Jesus. Then she told him the whole story.

34 Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith. May God give you peace! You are healed, and you will no longer be in pain.”

35 While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from Jairus' home and said, “Your daughter has died! Why bother the teacher anymore?”

36 Jesus heard[e] what they said, and he said to Jairus, “Don't worry. Just have faith!”

37 Jesus did not let anyone go with him except Peter and the two brothers, James and John. 38 They went home with Jairus and saw the people crying and making a lot of noise.[f] 39 Then Jesus went inside and said to them, “Why are you crying and carrying on like this? The child isn't dead. She is just asleep.” 40 But the people laughed at him.

After Jesus had sent them all out of the house, he took the girl's father and mother and his three disciples and went to where she was. 41-42 He took the twelve-year-old girl by the hand and said, “Talitha, koum!”[g] which means, “Little girl, get up!” The girl got right up and started walking around.

Everyone was greatly surprised. 43 But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. Then he said, “Give her something to eat.”

Footnotes

  1. 5.1 Gerasa: Some manuscripts have “Gadara,” and others have “Gergesa.”
  2. 5.3 graveyard: It was thought that demons and evil spirits lived in graveyards.
  3. 5.20 the ten cities known as Decapolis: A group of ten cities east of Samaria and Galilee, where the people followed the Greek way of life.
  4. 5.21 crossed Lake Galilee: To the west side.
  5. 5.36 heard: Or “ignored.”
  6. 5.38 crying and making a lot of noise: The Jewish people often hired mourners for funerals.
  7. 5.41,42 Talitha, koum: These words are in Aramaic, a language spoken in Palestine during the time of Jesus.

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

10 And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

11 Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

12 And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

14 And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

15 And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

16 And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

17 And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

18 And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

20 And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

21 And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

22 And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

23 And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

24 And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

25 And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

26 And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

27 When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

28 For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

31 And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

32 And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

33 But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

34 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

35 While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

36 As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

37 And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39 And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40 And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41 And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

42 And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

43 And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Ils arrivèrent sur l'autre rive du lac, dans le pays des Gadaréniens. Dès que Jésus fut hors de la barque, un homme vint à sa rencontre; il sortait des tombeaux et il était animé par un esprit impur. Cet homme habitait dans les tombeaux, et personne ne pouvait plus l'attacher, même avec une chaîne. En effet, souvent on l’avait attaché avec des fers aux pieds et des chaînes, mais il avait cassé les chaînes et brisé les fers, et personne n'avait la force de le maîtriser. Il était sans cesse, nuit et jour, dans les tombeaux et sur les montagnes; il criait et se blessait lui-même avec des pierres. Il vit Jésus de loin, accourut, se prosterna devant lui et s'écria d'une voix forte: «Que me veux-tu, Jésus, Fils du Dieu très-haut? Je t'en supplie au nom de Dieu, ne me tourmente pas.» En effet, Jésus lui disait: «Sors de cet homme, esprit impur!» Il lui demanda: «Quel est ton nom?» «Mon nom est légion, car nous sommes nombreux», répondit-il. 10 Et il le suppliait avec insistance de ne pas les envoyer hors du pays. 11 Il y avait là, vers la montagne, un grand troupeau de porcs en train de chercher à manger. 12 Tous les démons le supplièrent: «Envoie-nous dans ces porcs afin que nous entrions en eux.» 13 Il le leur permit [aussitôt]. Les esprits impurs sortirent de l'homme, entrèrent dans les porcs, et le troupeau se précipita du haut de la falaise dans le lac; il y avait environ 2000 porcs, et ils se noyèrent dans le lac. 14 Les gardiens du troupeau s'enfuirent et allèrent le raconter dans la ville et dans les campagnes. Les gens allèrent voir ce qui était arrivé. 15 Ils vinrent vers Jésus et virent le démoniaque, celui qui avait eu la légion de démons, assis, habillé et dans son bon sens; et ils furent saisis de frayeur. 16 Ceux qui avaient été témoins de la scène leur racontèrent ce qui était arrivé au démoniaque et aux porcs. 17 Alors ils se mirent à supplier Jésus de quitter leur territoire.

18 Comme il montait dans la barque, celui qui avait été démoniaque le suppliait, demandant à l’accompagner. 19 Jésus ne le lui permit pas mais lui dit: «Va dans ta maison, vers les tiens, et raconte-leur tout ce que le Seigneur a fait pour toi, comment il a eu pitié de toi.» 20 Il s'en alla et se mit à proclamer dans la Décapole tout ce que Jésus avait fait pour lui. Et tous étaient dans l'étonnement.

Guérison d’une femme et résurrection d’une fillette

21 Jésus regagna en barque l'autre rive, où une grande foule se rassembla autour de lui. Il était au bord du lac. 22 Alors vint un des chefs de la synagogue, du nom de Jaïrus. Lorsqu'il aperçut Jésus, il se jeta à ses pieds 23 et le supplia avec insistance: «Ma petite fille est sur le point de mourir. Viens, pose les mains sur elle afin qu'elle soit sauvée, et elle vivra.» 24 Jésus s'en alla avec lui. Une grande foule le suivait et le pressait de tous côtés.

25 Or, il y avait une femme atteinte d'hémorragies depuis 12 ans. 26 Elle avait beaucoup souffert entre les mains de nombreux médecins. Elle avait dépensé tout ce qu'elle possédait, mais cela n’avait servi à rien; au contraire, son état avait plutôt empiré. 27 Elle entendit parler de Jésus, vint dans la foule par-derrière et toucha son vêtement, 28 car elle se disait: «Même si je ne touche que ses vêtements, je serai guérie.» 29 A l'instant même, son hémorragie s'arrêta, et elle sentit dans son corps qu'elle était guérie de son mal. 30 Jésus se rendit aussitôt compte qu'une force était sortie de lui; il se retourna au milieu de la foule et dit: «Qui a touché mes vêtements?» 31 Ses disciples lui dirent: «Tu vois la foule qui te presse et tu dis: ‘Qui m'a touché?’» 32 Jésus regardait autour de lui pour voir celle qui avait fait cela. 33 La femme, effrayée et tremblante, sachant ce qui lui était arrivé, vint se jeter à ses pieds et lui dit toute la vérité. 34 Alors il lui dit: «Ma fille, ta foi t'a sauvée. Pars dans la paix et sois guérie de ton mal.»

35 Il parlait encore quand des gens arrivèrent de chez le chef de la synagogue et lui dirent: «Ta fille est morte. Pourquoi déranger encore le maître?» 36 Dès qu’il entendit cette parole, Jésus dit au chef de la synagogue: «N’aie pas peur, crois seulement.» 37 Et il ne laissa personne l'accompagner, sauf Pierre, Jacques et Jean, le frère de Jacques. 38 Ils arrivèrent à la maison du chef de la synagogue où Jésus vit du tumulte, des gens qui pleuraient et poussaient de grands cris. 39 Il entra et leur dit: «Pourquoi faites-vous ce tumulte et pourquoi pleurez-vous? L'enfant n'est pas morte, mais elle dort.» 40 Ils se moquaient de lui. Alors il les fit tous sortir, prit avec lui le père et la mère de l'enfant et ceux qui l'avaient accompagné, et il entra là où l'enfant était [couchée]. 41 Il la prit par la main et lui dit: «Talitha koumi», ce qui signifie: «Jeune fille, lève-toi, je te le dis». 42 Aussitôt la jeune fille se leva et se mit à marcher, car elle avait 12 ans. Ils furent [aussitôt] remplis d'un grand étonnement. 43 Jésus leur adressa de fortes recommandations pour que personne ne le sache et demanda qu’on donne à manger à la jeune fille.