Beginning
Jesus’ Ministry and the Help of Women
8 Some time[a] afterward[b] he went on through towns[c] and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news[d] of the kingdom of God.[e] The[f] twelve were with him, 2 and also some women[g] who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities:[h] Mary[i] (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza[j] (Herod’s[k] household manager),[l] Susanna, and many others who provided for them[m] out of their own resources.
The Parable of the Sower
4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus[n] from one town after another,[o] he spoke to them[p] in a parable: 5 “A sower went out to sow[q] his seed.[r] And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds[s] devoured it. 6 Other seed fell on rock,[t] and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. 7 Other seed fell among the thorns,[u] and they grew up with it and choked[v] it. 8 But[w] other seed fell on good soil and grew,[x] and it produced a hundred times as much grain.”[y] As he said this,[z] he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”[aa]
9 Then[ab] his disciples asked him what this parable meant.[ac] 10 He[ad] said, “You have been given[ae] the opportunity to know[af] the secrets[ag] of the kingdom of God,[ah] but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.[ai]
11 “Now the parable means[aj] this: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil[ak] comes and takes away the word[al] from their hearts, so that they may not believe[am] and be saved. 13 Those[an] on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while,[ao] but[ap] in a time of testing[aq] fall away.[ar] 14 As for the seed that[as] fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but[at] as they go on their way they are choked[au] by the worries and riches and pleasures of life,[av] and their fruit does not mature.[aw] 15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing[ax] the word, cling to it[ay] with an honest and good[az] heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.[ba]
Showing the Light
16 “No one lights[bb] a lamp[bc] and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light.[bd] 17 For nothing is hidden[be] that will not be revealed,[bf] and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. 18 So listen carefully,[bg] for whoever has will be given more, but[bh] whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has[bi] will be taken from him.”
Jesus’ True Family
19 Now Jesus’[bj] mother and his brothers[bk] came to him, but[bl] they could not get near him because of the crowd. 20 So[bm] he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 21 But he replied[bn] to them, “My mother and my brothers are those[bo] who hear the word of God and do it.”[bp]
Stilling of a Storm
22 One[bq] day Jesus[br] got into a boat[bs] with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So[bt] they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm[bu] came down on the lake,[bv] and the boat[bw] started filling up with water, and they were in danger. 24 They[bx] came[by] and woke him, saying, “Master, Master,[bz] we are about to die!” So[ca] he got up and rebuked[cb] the wind and the raging waves;[cc] they died down, and it was calm. 25 Then[cd] he said to them, “Where is your faith?”[ce] But they were afraid and amazed,[cf] saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water,[cg] and they obey him!”
Healing of a Demoniac
26 So[ch] they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes,[ci] which is opposite[cj] Galilee. 27 As[ck] Jesus[cl] stepped ashore,[cm] a certain man from the town[cn] met him who was possessed by demons.[co] For a long time this man[cp] had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among[cq] the tombs. 28 When he saw[cr] Jesus, he cried out, fell[cs] down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone,[ct] Jesus, Son of the Most High[cu] God! I beg you, do not torment[cv] me!” 29 For Jesus[cw] had started commanding[cx] the evil[cy] spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so[cz] he would be bound with chains and shackles[da] and kept under guard. But[db] he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted[dc] places.)[dd] 30 Jesus then[de] asked him, “What is your name?” He[df] said, “Legion,”[dg] because many demons had entered him. 31 And they began to beg[dh] him not to order[di] them to depart into the abyss.[dj] 32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,[dk] and the demonic spirits[dl] begged Jesus[dm] to let them go into them. He gave them permission.[dn] 33 So[do] the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs[dp] rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. 34 When[dq] the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news[dr] in the town[ds] and countryside. 35 So[dt] the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They[du] found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 Those[dv] who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.[dw] 37 Then[dx] all the people of the Gerasenes[dy] and the surrounding region[dz] asked Jesus[ea] to leave them alone,[eb] for they were seized with great fear.[ec] So[ed] he got into the boat and left.[ee] 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go[ef] with him, but Jesus[eg] sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home,[eh] and declare[ei] what God has done for you.”[ej] So[ek] he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town[el] what Jesus[em] had done for him.
Restoration and Healing
40 Now when Jesus returned,[en] the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. 41 Then[eo] a man named Jairus, who was a leader[ep] of the synagogue,[eq] came up. Falling[er] at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded[es] with him to come to his house, 42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.[et]
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed[eu] around him. 43 Now[ev] a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage[ew] for twelve years[ex] but could not be healed by anyone. 44 She[ey] came up behind Jesus[ez] and touched the edge[fa] of his cloak,[fb] and at once the bleeding[fc] stopped. 45 Then[fd] Jesus asked,[fe] “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter[ff] said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing[fg] against you!” 46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out[fh] from me.” 47 When[fi] the woman saw that she could not escape notice,[fj] she came trembling and fell down before him. In[fk] the presence of all the people, she explained why[fl] she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. 48 Then[fm] he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.[fn] Go in peace.”
49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue leader’s[fo] house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 50 But when Jesus heard this, he told[fp] him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”[fq] 51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus[fr] did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John,[fs] and James, and the child’s father and mother. 52 Now they were all[ft] wailing and mourning[fu] for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep!” 53 And they began making fun[fv] of him, because they knew[fw] that she was dead.[fx] 54 But Jesus[fy] gently took her by the hand and said,[fz] “Child, get up.” 55 Her[ga] spirit returned,[gb] and she got up immediately. Then[gc] he told them to give her something to eat. 56 Her[gd] parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one[ge] what had happened.
The Sending of the Twelve Apostles
9 After[gf] Jesus[gg] called[gh] the twelve[gi] together, he gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure[gj] diseases, 2 and he sent[gk] them out to proclaim[gl] the kingdom of God[gm] and to heal the sick.[gn] 3 He[go] said to them, “Take nothing for your[gp] journey—no staff,[gq] no bag,[gr] no bread, no money, and do not take an extra tunic.[gs] 4 Whatever[gt] house you enter, stay there[gu] until you leave the area.[gv] 5 Wherever[gw] they do not receive you,[gx] as you leave that town,[gy] shake the dust off[gz] your feet as a testimony against them.” 6 Then[ha] they departed and went throughout[hb] the villages, proclaiming the good news[hc] and healing people everywhere.
Herod’s Confusion about Jesus
7 Now Herod[hd] the tetrarch[he] heard about everything that was happening, and he was thoroughly perplexed,[hf] because some people were saying that John[hg] had been raised from the dead, 8 while others were saying that Elijah[hh] had appeared, and still others that one of the prophets of long ago had risen.[hi] 9 Herod said, “I had John[hj] beheaded, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” So Herod wanted to learn about Jesus.[hk]
The Feeding of the Five Thousand
10 When[hl] the apostles returned,[hm] they told Jesus[hn] everything they had done. Then[ho] he took them with him and they withdrew privately to a town[hp] called Bethsaida.[hq] 11 But when the crowds found out, they followed him. He[hr] welcomed them, spoke to them about the kingdom of God,[hs] and cured those who needed healing.[ht] 12 Now the day began to draw to a close,[hu] so[hv] the twelve came and said to Jesus,[hw] “Send the crowd away, so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside and find lodging[hx] and food, because we are in an isolated place.”[hy] 13 But he said to them, “You[hz] give them something to eat.” They[ia] replied,[ib] “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless[ic] we go[id] and buy food[ie] for all these people.” 14 (Now about 5,000 men[if] were there.)[ig] Then[ih] he said to his disciples, “Have[ii] them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 So they did as Jesus directed,[ij] and the people[ik] all sat down.
16 Then[il] he took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven he gave thanks[im] and broke them. He gave them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and what was left over[in] was picked up—twelve baskets of broken pieces.
Peter’s Confession
18 Once[io] when Jesus[ip] was praying[iq] by himself, and his disciples were nearby, he asked them,[ir] “Who do the crowds say that I am?”[is] 19 They[it] answered,[iu] “John the Baptist; others say Elijah;[iv] and still others that one of the prophets of long ago has risen.”[iw] 20 Then[ix] he said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter[iy] answered,[iz] “The Christ[ja] of God.” 21 But he forcefully commanded[jb] them not to tell this to anyone,[jc] 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer[jd] many things and be rejected by the elders,[je] chief priests, and experts in the law,[jf] and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”[jg]
A Call to Discipleship
23 Then[jh] he said to them all,[ji] “If anyone wants to become my follower,[jj] he must deny[jk] himself, take up his cross daily,[jl] and follow me. 24 For whoever wants to save his life[jm] will lose it,[jn] but whoever loses his life because of me[jo] will save it. 25 For what does it benefit a person[jp] if he gains the whole world but loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed[jq] of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of that person[jr] when he comes in his glory and in the glory[js] of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you most certainly,[jt] there are some standing here who will not[ju] experience[jv] death before they see the kingdom of God.”[jw]
The Transfiguration
28 Now[jx] about eight days[jy] after these sayings, Jesus[jz] took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up the mountain to pray. 29 As[ka] he was praying,[kb] the appearance of his face was transformed,[kc] and his clothes became very bright, a brilliant white.[kd] 30 Then[ke] two men, Moses and Elijah,[kf] began talking with him.[kg] 31 They appeared in glorious splendor and spoke about his departure[kh] that he was about to carry out[ki] at Jerusalem. 32 Now Peter and those with him were quite sleepy,[kj] but as they became fully awake,[kk] they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 Then[kl] as the men[km] were starting to leave,[kn] Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three shelters,[ko] one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he was saying. 34 As[kp] he was saying this, a cloud[kq] came[kr] and overshadowed[ks] them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then[kt] a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.[ku] Listen to him!”[kv] 36 After[kw] the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. So[kx] they kept silent and told no one[ky] at that time[kz] anything of what they had seen.
Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit
37 Now on[la] the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 Then[lb] a man from the crowd cried out,[lc] “Teacher, I beg you to look at[ld] my son—he is my only child! 39 A[le] spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams;[lf] it throws him into convulsions[lg] and causes him to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him alone, torturing[lh] him severely. 40 I[li] begged[lj] your disciples to cast it out, but[lk] they could not do so.”[ll] 41 Jesus answered,[lm] “You[ln] unbelieving[lo] and perverse generation! How much longer[lp] must I be with you and endure[lq] you?[lr] Bring your son here.” 42 As[ls] the boy[lt] was approaching, the demon threw him to the ground[lu] and shook him with convulsions.[lv] But Jesus rebuked[lw] the unclean[lx] spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 Then[ly] they were all astonished at the mighty power[lz] of God.
Another Prediction of Jesus’ Suffering
But while the entire crowd[ma] was amazed at everything Jesus[mb] was doing, he said to his disciples, 44 “Take these words to heart,[mc] for the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men.”[md] 45 But they did not understand this statement; its meaning[me] had been concealed[mf] from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet[mg] they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
Concerning the Greatest
46 Now an argument started among the disciples[mh] as to which of them might be[mi] the greatest. 47 But when Jesus discerned their innermost thoughts,[mj] he took a child, had him stand by[mk] his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever welcomes[ml] this child[mm] in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me, for the one who is least among you all is the one who is great.”[mn]
On the Right Side
49 John answered,[mo] “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop[mp] him because he is not a disciple[mq] along with us.” 50 But Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”
Rejection in Samaria
51 Now when[mr] the days drew near[ms] for him to be taken up,[mt] Jesus[mu] set out resolutely[mv] to go to Jerusalem. 52 He[mw] sent messengers on ahead of him.[mx] As they went along,[my] they entered a Samaritan village to make things ready in advance[mz] for him, 53 but the villagers[na] refused to welcome[nb] him, because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.[nc] 54 Now when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire to come down from heaven and consume[nd] them?”[ne] 55 But Jesus[nf] turned and rebuked them,[ng] 56 and they went on to another village.
Challenging Professed Followers
57 As[nh] they were walking[ni] along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.”[nj] 58 Jesus said to him, “Foxes have dens and the birds in the sky[nk] have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”[nl] 59 Jesus[nm] said to another, “Follow me.” But he replied,[nn] “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60 But Jesus[no] said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead,[np] but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”[nq] 61 Yet[nr] another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say goodbye to my family.”[ns] 62 Jesus[nt] said to him, “No one who puts his[nu] hand to the plow and looks back[nv] is fit for the kingdom of God.”[nw]
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