Luke 8

And it came to pass soon afterwards that he traveled through cities and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God, and the Twelve were with him,

and also certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, the manager of Herod’s household, and Susanna, and many others, who were providing for them out of their resources.

Now when a large crowd was gathering, and those of every city were making their way to him, he spoke by way of a parable:

“The sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some seed fell beside the path and was trampled on, and the birds of heaven devoured it.

And other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew it withered away because it had no moisture.

And other seed fell in the midst of thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

And other seed fell on the good soil, and grew up and bore fruit a hundredfold.” As he said these things he cried out, “Anyone who has ears to hear had better listen!”

And his disciples began asking him what this parable meant.

And he said, “To you it is given to know the sacred secrets of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest I speak in parables, so that seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not understand.

“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.

Now those beside the path are those who, when they have heard, then the Devil comes and takes away the word from their heart so that they cannot believe and be saved.

Now those on the rock are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who for a while believe, but in a time of temptation they depart.

Now the part that fell into the thorns, these are the ones who heard and, while going along through life are choked by worries, and wealth, and the pleasures of life, and so they do not bring fruit to maturity.

Now the part in the good soil, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold onto it firmly, and by enduring, produce fruit.

“And no one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but instead puts it on a lampstand so that those who enter can see the light.

For what is hidden will be revealed and what is hidden away will absolutely become known and come into the open.

Take care, therefore, how you hear, for whoever has, to him more will be given, and whoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken away from him.”

And his mother and brothers came to him, and they were not able to get near to him because of the crowd.

And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”

But he answered and said to them, “My mother and my brothers are these—the ones hearing the word of God, and doing it.”

Now it came to pass on one of those days that he got into a boat, he and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake,” and they launched out.

Now as they sailed he fell asleep, and a storm of wind came down on the lake and they were filling with water, and were in danger.

And they came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we are about to die!” And having been awakened, he subdued the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it became calm.

And he said to them, “Where is your trust?” And they were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, “Who is this, that he commands even the winds and the water and they obey him?”

And they sailed down to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from Galilee.

And when he had gone out onto the land, he was met by a certain man from the city, who had demons, and for a long time he had worn no clothes, and he was not living in a house, but in the tombs.

And when he saw Jesus he cried out and fell down before him, and said with a loud voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore you, do not torment me!”

For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For many times it had seized him, and he was bound with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break apart the bonds and be driven by the demon into the solitary places.

And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had gone into him.

And they were begging him, lest he command them to go away into the Abyss.

Now a herd of many pigs was there, feeding on the mountainside, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into them. And he allowed them.

And the demons, having come out from the man, went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

And when the men who were looking after them saw what had happened they fled and reported it in the city and in the countryside.

And the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid.

And those who had seen it told the people how the man who had been afflicted by the demon was healed.

And all the people of the region around the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, because they were gripped with great fear; and he got into a boat, and returned.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out was begging him to go with him, but he sent him away, saying,

“Return to your house and tell all that God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city all that Jesus had done for him.

Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him.

And Look! A man named Jairus came, and he was a leader of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and began entreating him to come into his house,

for he had an only daughter, about 12 years old, and she was dying. Now as he went, the crowd was pressing in around him.

And there was a woman who had a discharge of blood for 12 years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by anyone,

came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

And Jesus said, “Who is the one who touched me?” And while they all were denying it, Peter said, “Master, the crowd is surrounding you and pressing in against you.”

But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceived that power had gone out from me.”

And when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she touched him, and how she was immediately healed.

And he said to her, “Daughter, your trust has healed you. Go in peace.”

While he was still speaking, someone came from the house of the leader of the synagogue, saying, “Jairus, your daughter is dead, do not bother the teacher any longer.”

But Jesus, overhearing it, answered him, “Do not be afraid; just believe and she will be healed.”

And when he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him except Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the child and her mother.

Now they were all crying and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not cry, for she has not died, but is asleep.”

And they began to laugh at him, knowing that she was dead.

But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, “Child, arise.”

And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately, and he commanded them to give her something to eat.

And her parents were amazed, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.