Luke 8
1 Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were 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 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
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 Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who served them from their possessions.
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 When a great multitude came together and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable:
A large crowd of people came to Jesus from many towns. Then he told them this parable:
5 “The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.
“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 on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.
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 fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.
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 fell into the good ground and grew and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him 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 Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?”
Jesus’ disciples [later] asked him about the meaning of the parable [he had just told].
10 He said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of God’s Kingdom, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing 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 “Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
So this is the meaning of that parable: The seeds [represent] God’s message.
12 Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be 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 Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.
[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 What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.
[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 Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
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 one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter 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 For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.
[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 Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
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 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for 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 Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”
Someone told him, “Your mother and your [younger] brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.”
21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.”
He replied, “Those who hear God’s message and obey it are [as dear to me] [MET] as my mother and my brothers.”
22 Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.
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 But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.
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 They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm.
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 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, 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 Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
Jesus and his disciples arrived at the region near Gerasa, a [town] which [was on the eastern] side of Lake [Galilee].
27 When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live 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 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t 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 unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.
30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered into 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 Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. Then he allowed them.
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 The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank 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 those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.
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 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.
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 saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed.
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 All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the 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 But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,
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 “Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things 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 When Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.
When [Jesus and the disciples] returned [to Capernaum], a crowd of people who had been waiting for him welcomed him.
41 Behold, a man named Jairus came. He was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus’ feet and begged him to come into 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 for he had an only born daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against 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 A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians and could not be healed by any,
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 behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak. Immediately the flow of her blood stopped.
She came behind [Jesus] and touched the edge of his robe [in order to be healed]. At once her bleeding stopped.
45 Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
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 But Jesus said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.”
But Jesus said, “[I know that] someone [deliberately] touched me, [because] my power has healed someone [who touched me].”
47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
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 He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.”
[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 While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Don’t trouble the Teacher.”
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 it, answered him, “Don’t be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.”
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 came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her 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 All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.”
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 were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.
The people laughed at him, because they knew that [the girl] was dead.
54 But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!”
But [Jesus] took hold of her hand and called to her, saying, “Child, get up!”
55 Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her 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 he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.
Her parents were amazed, but Jesus told them not to tell anyone [else yet] what had happened.
