1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (Mr 6:6; Lu 4:43)2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (Mt 27:55; Mt 27:56; Mt 27:61; Mt 28:1; Mr 15:40; Mr 16:9; Lu 23:49; Lu 23:55; Lu 24:10; Joh 19:25; Joh 20:1; Joh 20:18; Ac 1:14)3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[1] out of their means. (Lu 24:10)
The Parable of the Sower
4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, (Mt 13:1; Mr 4:1)5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. (Isa 55:10; Am 9:13)6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (Joh 15:6)7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. (Jer 4:3)8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Ge 26:12; Mt 11:15)
The Purpose of the Parables
9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,10he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ (Isa 6:9; Mt 11:25; Mt 13:13; Mt 19:11; Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:6; Col 1:27; 1Jo 2:20; 1Jo 2:27)11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Mt 13:18; Mr 2:2; Mr 4:13; Mr 4:33; Lu 1:2; Ac 8:4; Jas 1:21)12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (Mr 16:16)13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Isa 58:2; Eze 33:31; Ho 6:4; Mr 6:20; Joh 5:35; Ga 1:6; Ga 5:7; 1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:12)14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Mt 6:25; Jas 1:11)15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Ho 14:8; Joh 15:5; Php 1:11; Col 1:6; Heb 10:36; Jas 5:7)
A Lamp Under a Jar
16“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. (Mt 5:15; Mr 4:21; Lu 11:33)17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. (Mt 10:26; Lu 12:2; 1Ti 5:25)18Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Mt 13:12; Lu 8:11)
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Then his mother and his brothers[2] came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. (Mt 12:46; Mt 13:55; Mr 3:31; Mr 6:3; Joh 2:12; Joh 7:3; Joh 7:5; Joh 7:10; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Ga 1:19)20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Lu 11:28; Jas 1:22)
Jesus Calms a Storm
22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, (Mt 8:23; Mr 4:36; Lu 5:1; Lu 8:33; Joh 6:16)23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. (Lu 8:22)24And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Ps 65:7; Ps 104:7; Mt 14:32; Mr 6:51; Lu 4:39)25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Mr 1:27; Lu 5:9; Joh 14:27)
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon
26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,[3] which is opposite Galilee. (Mt 8:28; Mr 5:1)27When Jesus[4] had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. (Re 18:2)28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” (Ge 14:18; Nu 24:16; Ps 57:2; Isa 14:14; Da 3:26; Mt 14:33; Mr 1:23; Mr 1:26; Lu 1:32; Lu 4:3; Lu 4:9; Lu 4:33; Lu 6:35; Ac 8:7; Ac 16:17)29For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) (Mt 12:43; Lu 11:24)30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. (Mt 26:53)31And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. (Re 9:1)32Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. (Lu 8:22)34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.35Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. (Lu 8:27; Lu 10:39)36And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed[5] man had been healed.37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. (Lu 5:8; Ac 16:39)38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,39“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Ps 66:16; Lu 5:14)
Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter
40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. (Lu 9:11)41And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, (Mt 9:18; Mr 5:22; Lu 13:14; Ac 13:15; Ac 18:8; Ac 18:17)42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. (Mr 3:9; Lu 7:12; Lu 8:45)43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,[6] she could not be healed by anyone. (Le 15:25; Mr 12:44; Lu 21:4)44She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. (Nu 15:38; De 22:12; Mt 14:36; Mt 15:28; Mt 17:18; Mt 23:5)45And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[7] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” (Lu 5:17; Lu 6:19; Ac 10:38)47And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Lu 7:50)49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” (Lu 7:6; Lu 8:41; Joh 11:28)50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. (Mr 3:17; Mr 14:33; Lu 9:28)52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” (Mt 11:17; Lu 7:13; Lu 23:27; Joh 11:4; Joh 11:11; Ac 20:10)53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” (Mt 11:5; Mr 1:31; Lu 7:14; Lu 7:22; Joh 11:43)55And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Jud 15:19; 1Sa 30:12)56And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Mt 8:4)
Luke 8
New International Version
The parable of the sower
1After this, Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him,2and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;3Joanna the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to support them out of their own means.4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable:5‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds ate it up.6Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture.7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.’ When he said this, he called out, ‘Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.’9His disciples asked him what this parable meant.10He said, ‘The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘ “though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.” (Isa 6:9)11‘This is the meaning of the parable: the seed is the word of God.12Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.13Those on the rocky ground are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.15But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.
A lamp on a stand
16‘No-one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.18Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.’
Jesus’ mother and brothers
19Now Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd.20Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’21He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.’
Jesus calms the storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let us go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out.23As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.24The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.25‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’
Jesus restores a demon-possessed man
26They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,[1] which is across the lake from Galilee.27When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs.28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!’29For Jesus had commanded the impure spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places.30Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Legion,’ he replied, because many demons had gone into him.31And they begged Jesus repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss.32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs, and he gave them permission.33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside,35and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.36Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured.37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left.38The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,39‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away and told all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick woman
40Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.41Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house42because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.43And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,[2] but no-one could heal her.44She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.45‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’46But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’47Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.48Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ he said. ‘Don’t bother the teacher anymore.’50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.’51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.52Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. ‘Stop wailing,’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead but asleep.’53They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.54But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’55Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.56Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.