¹⁷ One of the multitude answered, “Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; ¹⁸ and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren’t able.”

¹⁹ He answered him, “Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”

²⁰ They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.

²¹ He asked his father, “How long has it been since this has come to him?”

He said, “From childhood. ²² Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.”

²³ Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

²⁴ Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, “I believe. Help my unbelief!”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!”

²⁶ After crying out and convulsing him greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead, so much that most of them said, “He is dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.

²⁸ When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” ²⁹ He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.”