Matthew 8:23-9:8

Christian Standard Bible

Wind and Waves Obey Jesus

²³ As he got into the boat,^(A) his disciples^(B) followed him. ²⁴ Suddenly, a violent storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves—but Jesus kept sleeping. ²⁵ So the disciples came and woke him up, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to die!”

²⁶ He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea,^(C) and there was a great calm.

²⁷ The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey^(D) him!”

Demons Driven Out by Jesus

²⁸ When he had come to the other side,^(E) to the region of the Gadarenes,^[a] two demon-possessed men met him as they came out of the tombs. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. ²⁹ Suddenly they shouted, “What do you have to do with us,^[b] Son of God? Have you come here to torment us before the time?” ^(F)

³⁰ A long way off from them, a large herd of pigs was feeding. ³¹ “If you drive us out,” the demons begged him, “send us into the herd of pigs.”

³² “Go!” he told them. So when they had come out, they entered the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the sea and perished in the water. ³³ Then the men who tended them fled. They went into the city and reported everything, especially what had happened to those who were demon-possessed. ³⁴ At that, the whole town went out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged him to leave their region.^(G)

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

9 So he got into a boat, crossed over, and came to his own town.^{(H) 2} Just then^(I) some men^[c] brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Have courage, son, your sins are forgiven.”^(J)

³ At this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “He’s blaspheming!” ^(K)

⁴ Perceiving their thoughts,^(L) Jesus said, “Why are you thinking evil things in your hearts?^{[d] 5} For which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? ⁶ But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then he told the paralytic, “Get up, take your stretcher, and go home.” ⁷ So he got up and went home. ⁸ When the crowds saw this, they were awestruck^[e][f] and gave glory^(M) to God, who had given such authority to men.