8:1  Soon afterwards, He began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve accompanied Him,

8:2  and also some women who had received healing from evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

8:3  and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others who had contributed to their support out of their private means.

8:4  When a large crowd came together, and those from the various cities journeyed to Him, He spoke by way of a parable:

8:5  "The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and people trampled it under foot and the birds of the air ate it up.

8:6  "Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

8:7  "Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out.

8:8  "Other seed fell into the good soil, and grew up, and produced a crop a hundred times as great." As He said these things, He would call out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

8:9  His disciples began questioning Him as to what this parable meant.

8:10  And He said, "You have received the ability to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest I speak in parables, so that SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.

8:11  "Now the parable consists of this: the seed represents the word of God.

8:12  "Those beside the road symbolize those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and receive salvation.

8:13  "Those on the rocky soil symbolize those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.

8:14  "The seed which fell among the thorns, these symbolize the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they become choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

8:15  "But the seed in the good soil, these symbolize the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

8:16  "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light.

8:17  "For nothing has become hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not become known and come to light.

8:18  "So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him I shall give more; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has I shall take away from him."

8:19  And His mother and brothers came to Him, and they could not get to Him because of the crowd.

8:20  And someone reported to Him, "Your mother and Your brothers stand outside, wishing to see You."

8:21  But He answered and said to them, "My mother and My brothers I consider these who hear the word of God and do it."

8:22  Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out.

8:23  But as they sailed along He fell asleep; and a fierce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to sink and fall into danger.

8:24  They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we perish!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves, and they stopped, and it became calm.

8:25  And He said to them, "Where have you left your faith?" They grew fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then do we see here, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?"

8:26  Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes, which locates opposite Galilee.

8:27  And when He came out onto the land, a man from the city had become possessed with demons; and who had not put on any clothing for a long time, and did not live in a house, but in the tombs.

8:28  Seeing Jesus, he cried out and fell before Him, and said in a loud voice, "What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me."

8:29  For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had seized him many times; and they bound him with chains and shackles and kept under guard, and yet he would break his bonds and the demon would drive him into the desert.

8:30  And Jesus asked him, "What do you call yourself?" And he said, "Legion"; for many demons had entered him.

8:31  They implored Him not to command them to go away into the abyss.

8:32  Now a herd of many swine fed there on the mountain; and the demons implored Him to permit them to enter the swine. And He gave them permission.

8:33  And the demons came out of the man and entered the swine; and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned.

8:34  When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country.

8:35  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 down at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind; and they became frightened.

8:36  Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who had become demon-possessed had become made well.

8:37  And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes and the surrounding district asked Him to leave them, for great fear gripped them; and He got into a boat and returned.

8:38  But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged Him that he might accompany Him; but He sent him away, saying,

8:39  "Return to your house and describe what great things God has done for you." So he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

8:40  And as Jesus returned, the people welcomed Him, for they had waited for Him.

8:41  And there came a man named Jairus, and he served as an official of the synagogue; and he fell at Jesus' feet, and began to implore Him to come to his house;

8:42  for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she died. But as He went, the crowds pressed against Him.

8:43  And a woman who had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and no one could heal her,

8:44  came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped.

8:45  And Jesus said, "Who touched Me?" And while they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people crowd and press in on You."

8:46  But Jesus said, "Someone did touch Me, for I felt aware that power had gone out of Me."

8:47  When the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and declared in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had received healing immediately.

8:48  And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

8:49  While He still spoke, someone came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, "Your daughter has died; do not trouble the Teacher anymore."

8:50  But when Jesus heard this, He answered him, "Do not fear any longer; only believe, and I will make you well."

8:51  When He came to the house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him, except Peter and John and James, and the girl's father and mother.

8:52  Now they all wept and lamented for her; but He said, "Stop weeping, for she has not died, but has fallen asleep."

8:53  And they began laughing at Him, knowing that she had died.

8:54  He, however, took her by the hand and called, saying, "Child, arise!"

8:55  And her spirit returned, and she got up immediately; and He gave orders that they give her something to eat.

8:56  Her parents felt amazed; but He instructed them to tell no one what had happened.