¹⁷ A man answered, “Teacher, I brought my son to you. He is controlled by an evil spirit that keeps him from talking. ¹⁸ The spirit attacks him and throws him on the ground. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes very stiff. I asked your followers to force the evil spirit out, but they could not.”

¹⁹ Jesus answered, “You people today don’t believe! How long must I stay with you? How long must I be patient with you? Bring the boy to me!”

²⁰ So the followers brought the boy to Jesus. When the evil spirit saw Jesus, it attacked the boy. The boy fell down and rolled on the ground. He was foaming at the mouth.

²¹ Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has this been happening to him?”

The father answered, “Since he was very young. ²² The spirit often throws him into a fire or into water to kill him. If you can do anything, please have pity on us and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to the father, “Why did you say ‘if you can’? All things are possible for the one who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!”

²⁵ Jesus saw that all the people were running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit. He said, “You evil spirit that makes this boy deaf and stops him from talking—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ The evil spirit screamed. It caused the boy to fall on the ground again, and then it came out. The boy looked as if he was dead. Many people said, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.

²⁸ Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”

²⁹ Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer.^[a]”