Luke 8
1 Shortly afterwards, Jesus went on a journey through the towns and villages, proclaiming the Good News of the Kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve,
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].
2 as well as some women who had been cured of wicked spirits and of infirmities. They were Mary, known as Mary of Magdala (from whom seven demons had been expelled),
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;
3 and Joanna (the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza), and Susannah, and many others — all of whom ministered to Jesus and his Apostles out of their means.
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].
4 Once, when a great crowd was collecting, and, when the people of town after town were flocking to Jesus, he spoke to them in the form of a parable:
A large crowd of people came to Jesus from many towns. Then he told them this parable:
5 “The sower went out to sow his seed; and, as he was sowing, some of the seed fell along the path and was trodden upon; and the wild birds ate it up.
“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.
6 Other seed fell upon rock, and, as soon as it began to grow, having no moisture, withered away.
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.
7 Other seed fell in the middle of brambles, but the brambles grew up with it and choked it entirely.
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].
8 Other seed fell into rich soil, and grew, and gave a hundred-fold return.” After saying this, Jesus cried aloud: “Let him who has ears to hear with hear.”
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]!”
9 His disciples asked Jesus the meaning of this parable.
Jesus’ disciples [later] asked him about the meaning of the parable [he had just told].
10 “To you,” he said, “the knowledge of the hidden truths of the Kingdom of God has been imparted, but to others in parables only, that ‘though they have eyes they may not see, and though they have ears, they may not understand.’
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].
11 This is the parable — The seed is God’s Message.
So this is the meaning of that parable: The seeds [represent] God’s message.
12 By the seed which fell along the path are meant those who hear the Message; but then comes the Devil and carries away the Message from their minds, to prevent their believing it and being saved.
[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}.
13 By the seed which fell upon the rock are meant those who, as soon as they hear the Message, welcome it joyfully; but they have no root, and believe it only for a time, and, when the time of temptation comes, they draw back.
[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].
14 By that which fell among the brambles are meant those who hear the Message, but who, as they go on their way, are completely choked by this world’s cares and wealth and pleasures, and bring nothing to perfection.
[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.
15 But by that in the good ground are meant those who, having heard the Message, keep it in the good, rich soil of their hearts, and patiently yield a return.
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].”
16 No man sets light to a lamp and then covers it with a bowl or puts it underneath a couch, but he puts it on a lamp-stand, so that anyone who comes in may see the light.
“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].
17 Nothing is hidden which will not be brought into the light of day, not ever kept hidden which will not some day become known and come into the light of day.
[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}.
18 Take care, then, how you listen. For, to all those who have, more will be given; while, from all those who have nothing, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”
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].”
19 Presently Jesus’ mother and brothers came where he was, but they were not able to join him on account of the crowd.
[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].
20 So word was brought to him — ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’
Someone told him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21 His reply, spoken to them all, was: “My mother and my brothers are those who listen to God’s teaching and do what it bids.”
He replied, “Those who hear God’s message and obey it are [as dear to me] [MET] as my mother and my brothers.”
22 One day about that time, Jesus got into a boat with his disciples and said to them: “Let us go across the lake.”
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.
23 So they put off. While they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A squall swept down upon the lake, and their boat was filling and they were in danger.
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.
24 So the disciples came and roused him. “Sir, Sir,” they cried, “we are lost!” Jesus rose and rebuked the wind and the rushing waves, and they fell, and a calm followed.
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.
25 “Where is your faith?” he exclaimed. But in great awe and amazement they said to one another: “Who can this be, that he commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him?”
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!”
26 And they reached the country of the Gerasenes, which is on the opposite side to Galilee;
Jesus and his disciples arrived at the region near Gerasa, a [town] which [was on the eastern] side of Lake [Galilee].
27 and, on getting ashore, Jesus met a man, who had demons in him, coming out of the town. For a long time this man had worn no clothing, and he had not lived in a house, but in the tombs.
[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.
28 Catching sight of Jesus, he shrieked out and threw himself down before him, and in a loud voice exclaimed: “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beseech you not to torment me.”
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]!”
29 For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out from the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the Wilds.
30 “What is your name?” Jesus asked. “Legion,” he answered (for many demons had taken possession of him);
[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.
[The demons] kept begging [Jesus] that he would not command them to go into the deep place [where God punishes demons]. (Abyssos g12)
32 There was a drove of many pigs close by feeding upon the hill-side; and the demons begged Jesus to give them leave to enter into them. Jesus gave them leave.
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.
33 They came out from the man and took possession of the pigs; and the drove rushed down the steep slope into the lake and were drowned.
The demons left the man and entered the pigs. Then the herd [of pigs] rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.
34 When the men who tended them saw what had happened, they ran away, and carried the news to the town, and to the country round.
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.
35 The people went out to see what had happened, and, when they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at Jesus’ feet; and they were awe-struck.
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]).
36 Those who had seen it told them how the possessed man had been delivered;
The people who had seen what happened told those [who had just arrived] how [Jesus] had healed the man whom demons were controlling [before].
37 upon which all the people in the neighbourhood of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, for they were terrified. Jesus got into a boat and returned.
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.
38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged Jesus to let him be with him; but Jesus sent him away.
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,
39 “Go back to your home,” he said, “and relate the story of all that God has done for you.” So the man went through the whole town and proclaimed, as he went, all that Jesus had done for him.
“[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.
40 On his return, Jesus was welcomed by the people; for everyone was looking out for him.
When [Jesus and the disciples] returned [to Capernaum], a crowd of people who had been waiting for him welcomed him.
41 And a man named Jaeirus, who was a President of the Synagogue, came to Jesus, and threw himself at Jesus’ feet, with entreaties that he would come to his house,
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],
42 because his only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus was going, the people were pressing closely round him.
my only daughter, who is about twelve years old, because she is dying!” As Jesus went with him, many people crowded close to Jesus.
43 And a woman, who had suffered from haemorrhage for twelve years, and whom no one could cure,
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}.
44 came up behind and touched the tassel of his cloak. Instantly the haemorrhage ceased.
She came behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his robe [in order to be healed]. At once her bleeding stopped.
45 “Who was it that touched me?” Jesus asked; and, while everyone was denying having done so, Peter exclaimed: “Why, Sir, the people are crowding round you and pressing upon you!”
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]!”
46 “Somebody touched me,” said Jesus; “for I felt that power had gone out from me.”
But Jesus said, “[I know that] someone [deliberately] touched me, [because] my power has healed someone [who touched me].”
47 Then the woman, when she saw that she was discovered, came forward trembling, and threw herself down before him; and, in the presence of all the people, she told him her reason for touching him, and that she had been cured instantly.
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.
48 “Daughter,” he said, “your faith has delivered you. Go, and peace be with you.”
[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].”
49 Before he had finished speaking, some one came from the house of the President of the Synagogue and said: “Your daughter is dead! Do not trouble the Teacher further.”
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]”
50 But Jesus, hearing this, spoke to the President: “Do not be afraid; only have faith, and she shall yet be delivered.”
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.”
51 When he reached the house, he did not allow any one to go in with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child’s father and mother.
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.
52 And every one was weeping and mourning for her. “Do not weep,” Jesus said, “she is not dead; she is asleep.”
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]!”
53 They began to laugh at him, for they knew that she was dead.
The people laughed at him, because they knew that [the girl] was dead.
54 But, taking her by the hand, Jesus said in a loud voice: “Child, rise!”
But [Jesus] took hold of her hand and called to her, saying, “Child, get up!”
55 The child’s spirit returned to her, and she instantly stood up; and Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat.
At once her spirit returned [to her body] and she got up. Jesus immediately said, “Give her something to eat!”
56 Her parents were amazed, but Jesus impressed on them that they were not to tell any one what had happened.
Her parents were amazed, but Jesus told them not to tell anyone [else yet] what had happened.
