¹⁶ “What are you arguing with them about?” Jesus asked.

¹⁷ A man in the crowd answered. “Teacher,” he said, “I brought you my son. He is controlled by an evil spirit. Because of this, my son can’t speak anymore. ¹⁸ When the spirit takes hold of him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth. He grinds his teeth. And his body becomes stiff. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit. But they couldn’t do it.”

²⁰ So they brought him. As soon as the spirit saw Jesus, it threw the boy into a fit. He fell to the ground. He rolled around and foamed at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?”

“Since he was a child,” he answered. ²² “The spirit has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us. Please help us.”

²³ “ ‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for the one who believes.”

²⁴ Right away the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief!”