| New Living Translation | Berean Study Bible |
| 1Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, | 1Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him, |
| 2along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons; | 2as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, |
| 3Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s business manager; Susanna; and many others who were contributing from their own resources to support Jesus and his disciples. Parable of the Farmer Scattering Seed | 3Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means. |
| 4One day Jesus told a story in the form of a parable to a large crowd that had gathered from many towns to hear him: | 4While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable: |
| 5 “A farmer went out to plant his seed. As he scattered it across his field, some seed fell on a footpath, where it was stepped on, and the birds ate it. | 5“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it. |
| 6 Other seed fell among rocks. It began to grow, but the plant soon wilted and died for lack of moisture. | 6Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture. |
| 7 Other seed fell among thorns that grew up with it and choked out the tender plants. | 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings. |
| 8 Still other seed fell on fertile soil. This seed grew and produced a crop that was a hundred times as much as had been planted!” When he had said this, he called out, “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.” | 8Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold.” As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” |
| 9His disciples asked him what this parable meant. | 9Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant. |
| 10He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables to teach the others so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled: ‘When they look, they won’t really see. When they hear, they won’t understand.’ | 10He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries 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.’ |
| 11 “This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. | 11Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. |
| 12 The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. | 12The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. |
| 13 The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. | 13The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away. |
| 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. | 14The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature. |
| 15 And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. Parable of the Lamp | 15But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop. |
| 16 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or hides it under a bed. A lamp is placed on a stand, where its light can be seen by all who enter the house. | 16No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light. |
| 17 For all that is secret will eventually be brought into the open, and everything that is concealed will be brought to light and made known to all. | 17For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. |
| 18 “So pay attention to how you hear. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” The True Family of Jesus | 18Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” |
| 19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him, but they couldn’t get to him because of the crowd. | 19Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd. |
| 20Someone told Jesus, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, and they want to see you.” | 20He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.” |
| 21Jesus replied, “My mother and my brothers are all those who hear God’s word and obey it.” Jesus Calms the Storm | 21But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.” |
| 22One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.” So they got into a boat and started out. | 22One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out. |
| 23As they sailed across, Jesus settled down for a nap. But soon a fierce storm came down on the lake. The boat was filling with water, and they were in real danger. | 23As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. |
| 24The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm. | 24The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. |
| 25Then he asked them, “Where is your faith?” The disciples were terrified and amazed. “Who is this man?” they asked each other. “When he gives a command, even the wind and waves obey him!” Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man | 25“Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!” |
| 26So they arrived in the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. | 26Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee. |
| 27As Jesus was climbing out of the boat, a man who was possessed by demons came out to meet him. For a long time he had been homeless and naked, living in the tombs outside the town. | 27When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs. |
| 28As soon as he saw Jesus, he shrieked and fell down in front of him. Then he screamed, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Please, I beg you, don’t torture me!” | 28When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!” |
| 29For Jesus had already commanded the evil spirit to come out of him. This spirit had often taken control of the man. Even when he was placed under guard and put in chains and shackles, he simply broke them and rushed out into the wilderness, completely under the demon’s power. | 29For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places. |
| 30Jesus demanded, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, for he was filled with many demons. | 30“What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. |
| 31The demons kept begging Jesus not to send them into the bottomless pit. | 31And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss. |
| 32There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby, and the demons begged him to let them enter into the pigs. So Jesus gave them permission. | 32There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission. |
| 33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned. | 33Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. |
| 34When the herdsmen saw it, they fled to the nearby town and the surrounding countryside, spreading the news as they ran. | 34When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside. |
| 35People rushed out to see what had happened. A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been freed from the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. | 35So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. |
| 36Then those who had seen what happened told the others how the demon-possessed man had been healed. | 36Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed. |
| 37And all the people in the region of the Gerasenes begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone, for a great wave of fear swept over them. So Jesus returned to the boat and left, crossing back to the other side of the lake. | 37Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back. |
| 38The man who had been freed from the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him home, saying, | 38The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying, |
| 39 “No, go back to your family, and tell them everything God has done for you.” So he went all through the town proclaiming the great things Jesus had done for him. Jesus Heals in Response to Faith | 39“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him. |
| 40On the other side of the lake the crowds welcomed Jesus, because they had been waiting for him. | 40When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him. |
| 41Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come home with him. | 41Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house, |
| 42His only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went with him, he was surrounded by the crowds. | 42because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying. As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him, |
| 43A woman in the crowd had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding, and she could find no cure. | 43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her. |
| 44Coming up behind Jesus, she touched the fringe of his robe. Immediately, the bleeding stopped. | 44She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. |
| 45 “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. Everyone denied it, and Peter said, “Master, this whole crowd is pressing up against you.” | 45“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.” |
| 46But Jesus said, “Someone deliberately touched me, for I felt healing power go out from me.” | 46But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.” |
| 47When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed. | 47Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed. |
| 48 “Daughter,” he said to her, “your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” | 48“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” |
| 49While he was still speaking to her, a messenger arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. He told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.” | 49While He was still speaking, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he told Jairus. “Do not bother the Teacher anymore.” |
| 50But when Jesus heard what had happened, he said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith, and she will be healed.” | 50But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” |
| 51When they arrived at the house, Jesus wouldn’t let anyone go in with him except Peter, John, James, and the little girl’s father and mother. | 51When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother. |
| 52The house was filled with people weeping and wailing, but he said, “Stop the weeping! She isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.” | 52Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” |
| 53But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died. | 53And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead. |
| 54Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, “My child, get up!” | 54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” |
| 55And at that moment her life returned, and she immediately stood up! Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. | 55Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat. |
| 56Her parents were overwhelmed, but Jesus insisted that they not tell anyone what had happened. | 56Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened. |
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