< Luke 8 >

1 Soon after that, Jesus went, along with his twelve [disciples], through various cities and villages. As they went, he was telling people the good message about how God wants (to have complete control/to rule) [MET] [over their lives].
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
2 Some women from whom he had expelled evil spirits and healed of diseases also [went with him]. These included Mary, the woman from Magdala [village], from whom [he had expelled] seven evil spirits;
And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,
3 Joanna, the wife of Chuza, who was one of [King] Herod [Antipas’] officials; Susanna; and many others. They were providing some of their own funds [to help Jesus and his disciples].
And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered to him of their substance.
4 A large crowd of people came to Jesus from many towns. Then he told them this parable:
And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spoke by a parable:
5 “A man went out [to his field] to sow [some] seeds. As he was scattering them over the soil, some [of the seeds] fell on the path. Then [people] walked on those seeds, and birds ate them.
A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 Some [of the seeds] fell on rock [on which there was a thin layer of] moist [soil]. As soon as the seeds grew, the plants dried up because they had no moisture.
And some fell on a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 Some [of the seeds] fell on [ground that contained roots of] thorny [weeds]. The thorny weeds grew [together] with the young plants, and [they] crowded out [those plants].
And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 But some of the seeds fell on good soil and grew [well]. [Each seed later] produced 100 [grains].” Then Jesus called out to them, “If you want to understand [MTY] this, you must consider [carefully what I have just said]!”
And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bore fruit an hundred times. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.
9 Jesus’ disciples [later] asked him about the meaning of the parable [he had just told].
And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?
10 He said, “God is revealing to you what he did not reveal before, about [how he wants to] rule [MET] [over people’s lives]. But when I am telling other people about [these things, I tell them] only in parables. The result will be [like a prophet predicted long ago]: They will see [what I am doing], but will not perceive [what it means]. They will hear [what I am saying], but will not understand [it].
And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
11 So this is the meaning of that parable: The seeds [represent] God’s message.
Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
12 [Some people are like] the path on which some of [the seeds fell]. When these people hear God’s message, the devil comes and causes them to forget what they have heard. As a result, they do not believe it, and will not be saved {[God] will not save them}.
Those by the way side are they that hear; then comes the devil, and takes away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
13 [Some people are like] the [soil with] rock [underneath]. When they hear [God’s] message, they accept it joyfully. [But because it does not penetrate deeply] [MET] [into their inner beings], they believe it for [only] a [short] time. [They are like the plants that] did not have [deep] roots. When difficult things happen to them, they stop believing [God’s message].
They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
14 [Some people are like] the [soil that had roots of] thorny [weeds] in it. They are people who accept [God’s message], but later on they worry about things, and try to become rich, and enjoy [things that give them] a lot of pleasure. So they do not become [spiritually] mature.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
15 But [some people are like] the good soil. They hear [God’s] message and accept it. They [become] good, honest people, and they continue doing things [that please God] [MET].”
But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16 “After people light a lamp, they do not cover it with a basket or put it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a lampstand, so that those who enter [their house] can see [things from] its light [MET]. [Similarly, you must tell God’s truth to others so that they can know what I can do for them].
No man, when he has lighted a candle, covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed; but sets it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
17 [God wants to] make clear all [of his truth] that was not evident previously. [He intends] that all of [the truth] that [he] had not revealed before be told openly {that [his people] openly tell [others] all [of the truth] that [he] has not revealed before}.
For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
18 So listen carefully [to what I tell you], because [God] will enable those who accept [my truth] to [understand even] more. But [God] will cause those who do not accept [my truth] to not understand even [the little] that they think they have [understood].”
Take heed therefore how you hear: for whoever has, to him shall be given; and whoever has not, from him shall be taken even that which he seems to have.
19 [One day Jesus’] mother and his [younger] brothers came to see him, but they could not get near him because there was a large crowd [around him in the house].
Then came to him his mother and his brothers, and could not come at him for the press.
20 Someone told him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
And it was told him by certain which said, Your mother and your brothers stand without, desiring to see you.
21 He replied, “Those who hear God’s message and obey it are [as dear to me] [MET] as my mother and my brothers.”
And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brothers are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
22 One day Jesus got into a boat with his disciples. He said to them, “Let’s go [around to] the other side of the lake.” So they started to go.
Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.
23 As they were sailing, he fell asleep. A big windstorm struck the lake. Soon the boat was filling with water, and they were in danger.
But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.
24 Jesus’ disciples woke him up. They said [to him], “Master! Master! We [(inc)] are going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and told the waves to be calm. The wind [immediately] stopped blowing and the waves calmed down. [The lake] became calm.
And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.
25 He said to them, “(I [am disappointed that] you did not trust me [to help you]!/Why did you not trust me [to help you]?)” [RHQ] They were afraid. They were also amazed. They said to each other, “(What kind of man is this?/This man is not like ordinary men!) [RHQ] He [not only commands people, but] when he commands the wind and the water, they also obey him!”
And he said to them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him.
26 Jesus and his disciples arrived at the region near Gerasa, a [town] which [was on the eastern] side of Lake [Galilee].
And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
27 [There was] a man [in that region] in whom demons lived. [He was] from the town [of Gerasa]. (OR, [In that area there was] a man [from that town] whom demons controlled.) For a long time he had not worn clothes. He did not live in a house. Instead, he lived in burial caves.
And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither stayed in any house, but in the tombs.
28 Many times [demons] attacked him. He was guarded {[People] tried to guard him} [so that he would not injure others]. Chains were fastened {They fastened chains} on his hands and shackles on his feet, but he would break the chains and shackles. Then he would be sent away by the demons {the demons would send him away} to some desolate area. When Jesus stepped out of the boat onto the shore, the man saw him. He [ran to Jesus] and prostrated himself before him. Then Jesus commanded, “You evil spirit, come out of that man!” But it [did not leave immediately. Instead, it] caused the man to shout very loudly, “Jesus, Son of the great God in heaven, since we [(inc)] have nothing in common, [leave me alone] [RHQ]! I beg you, do not torture me [now]!”
When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of God most high? I beseech you, torment me not.
(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he broke the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)
30 [In order to expel the demon more easily], Jesus asked [the demon], “What is your [(sg)] name?” He replied, “My name is Crowd/Mob.” [He said that] because many demons had entered that man.
And Jesus asked him, saying, What is your name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.
31 [The demons] kept begging [Jesus] that he would not command them to go into the deep place [where God punishes demons]. (Abyssos g12)
And they sought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep. (Abyssos g12)
32 There was a large herd of pigs (grazing/rooting for food) on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus that he allow them to enter the pigs. So he did.
And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they sought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.
33 The demons left the man and entered the pigs. Then the herd [of pigs] rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.
34 When the men who were taking care of the pigs saw what happened, they ran! They told people inside the town and outside the town what had happened.
When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.
35 So people went out to see what had happened. When they came to where Jesus was, they saw that the man from whom Jesus had [expelled] the demons was sitting at the feet of Jesus, [listening to him]. He had clothes on, and his mind was normal again. Then those people became afraid [because they thought that Jesus would destroy more of their property] (OR, [because they realized that he must be very powerful]).
Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
36 The people who had seen what happened told those [who had just arrived] how [Jesus] had healed the man whom demons were controlling [before].
They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.
37 Then [those people and] many other people [HYP] from the area near Gerasa asked Jesus to leave their area. They were very afraid of [what else Jesus would do to them]. So [Jesus and the disciples] got into the boat to go back across the lake.
Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about sought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
38 The man from whom he had [expelled] the demons begged him saying, “[Please], let me go with you!” But [Jesus refused. Instead], he said to him,
Now the man out of whom the devils were departed sought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,
39 “[No], go home and tell people how much God has done for you!” Then he sent him away. So the man went away and told people throughout the nearby town how much Jesus had done for him.
Return to your own house, and show how great things God has done to you. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done to him.
40 When [Jesus and the disciples] returned [to Capernaum], a crowd of people who had been waiting for him welcomed him.
And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.
41 Just then a man named Jairus, who was one of the leaders (of the synagogue/of the Jewish meeting place) [there], came near and prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet. He pleaded with Jesus, “Please come to my house [and heal my daughter],
And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and sought him that he would come into his house:
42 my only daughter, who is about twelve years old, because she is dying!” As Jesus went with him, many people crowded close to Jesus.
For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
43 Then a woman came near. She had been suffering from constant [vaginal] [EUP] bleeding for twelve years, but she could not be healed by anyone {no one could heal her}.
And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living on physicians, neither could be healed of any,
44 She came behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his robe [in order to be healed]. At once her bleeding stopped.
Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.
45 Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When everyone said that they had not touched him, Peter said, “Lord, there is a large crowd of people around you [(sg)] and crowding against you, [so any one of them might have touched you]!”
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng you and press you, and say you, Who touched me?
46 But Jesus said, “[I know that] someone [deliberately] touched me, [because] my power has healed someone [who touched me].”
And Jesus said, Somebody has touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
47 When the woman realized that she could not prevent [Jesus] (OR, [people]) from knowing that [she was healed], her body began to shake. [She was afraid that because she had disobeyed the law that a woman with such a condition should not touch others, Jesus might scold her for doing that]. She prostrated herself before Jesus. As the other people were listening, she told why she had touched him and how she had been healed immediately.
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared to him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
48 [Jesus] said to her, “(Ma’am/My dear woman), because you believed [PRS] [that I could heal you, I] have healed you. Go [from here, and may you experience God’s] peace [within you].”
And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: your faith has made you whole; go in peace.
49 While he was still talking [to her], a man from Jairus’ house came and said to Jairus, “Your daughter has died. So (it is useless that you bother the teacher any longer [by urging him to go to your house]!/why do you bother the teacher any longer [by urging him to go to your house]?) [RHQ]”
While he yet spoke, there comes one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Your daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
50 But when Jesus heard that, he said to Jairus, “Do not think that there is nothing more that can be done. Just believe that [I can help her. If you(sg) do that], she will live again.”
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.
51 When they arrived outside Jairus’ house, Jesus allowed only Peter, John, James, and the girl’s mother and father to go in Jairus’ house with him.
And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
52 All the people [there] were crying and beating their chests [to show that they were sad]. But, [knowing that he would cause the girl to live again], he said to them, “Stop crying! She is not dead! She is [just] sleeping [MET]!”
And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.
53 The people laughed at him, because they knew that [the girl] was dead.
And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
54 But [Jesus] took hold of her hand and called to her, saying, “Child, get up!”
And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
55 At once her spirit returned [to her body] and she got up. Jesus immediately said, “Give her something to eat!”
And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.
56 Her parents were amazed, but Jesus told them not to tell anyone [else yet] what had happened.
And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

< Luke 8 >