Jesus Heals the Blind and the Mute

²⁷ As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!”^(A)

²⁸ When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?”

“Yes, Lord,” they replied.^(B)

²⁹ Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you”;^{(C) 30} and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.”^{(D) 31} But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.^(E)

³² While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed^(F) and could not talk^(G) was brought to Jesus. ³³ And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”^(H)

³⁴ But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”^(I)

A Prophet Without Honor^(A)

6 Jesus left there and went to his hometown,^(B) accompanied by his disciples. ² When the Sabbath came,^(C) he began to teach in the synagogue,^(D) and many who heard him were amazed.^(E)

“Where did this man get these things?” they asked. “What’s this wisdom that has been given him? What are these remarkable miracles he is performing? ³ Isn’t this the carpenter? Isn’t this Mary’s son and the brother of James, Joseph,^[a] Judas and Simon?^(F) Aren’t his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him.^(G)

⁴ Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”^{(H) 5} He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on^(I) a few sick people and heal them. ⁶ He was amazed at their lack of faith.

Jesus Sends Out the Twelve^(J)

Then Jesus went around teaching from village to village.^(K)

A Prophet Without Honor^(A)

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables,^(B) he moved on from there. ⁵⁴ Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue,^(C) and they were amazed.^(D) “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. ⁵⁵ “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son?^(E) Isn’t his mother’s^(F) name Mary, and aren’t his brothers^(G) James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? ⁵⁶ Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they took offense^(H) at him.

But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”^(I)

⁵⁸ And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.^{(A) 36} When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them,^(B) because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.^{(C) 37} Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest^(D) is plentiful but the workers are few.^{(E) 38} Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

⁷ Calling the Twelve to him,^(A) he began to send them out two by two^(B) and gave them authority over impure spirits.^(C)

⁸ These were his instructions: “Take nothing for the journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in your belts. ⁹ Wear sandals but not an extra shirt. ¹⁰ Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that town. ¹¹ And if any place will not welcome you or listen to you, leave that place and shake the dust off your feet^(D) as a testimony against them.”

¹² They went out and preached that people should repent.^{(E) 13} They drove out many demons and anointed many sick people with oil^(F) and healed them.