1After this, Jesus travelled around from one town and village to another. He announced the good news of God’s kingdom. His 12 disciples were with him.2So were some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases. One was Mary Magdalene. Seven demons had come out of her.3Another was Joanna, the wife of Chuza. He was the manager of Herod’s household. Susanna and many others were there also. These women were helping to support Jesus and the 12 disciples with their own money.4A large crowd gathered together. People came to Jesus from town after town. As they did, he told a story. He said,5‘A farmer went out to plant his seed. He scattered the seed on the ground. Some fell on a path. People walked on it, and the birds ate it up.6Some seed fell on rocky ground. When it grew, the plants dried up because they had no water.7Other seed fell among thorns. The thorns grew up with it and crowded out the plants.8Still other seed fell on good soil. It grew up and produced a crop 100 times more than the farmer planted.’ When Jesus said this, he called out, ‘Whoever has ears should listen.’9His disciples asked him what the story meant.10He said, ‘You have been given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders I speak by using stories. In that way, ‘ “They see, but they will not know what they are seeing. They hear, but they will not understand what they are hearing.” (Isa 6:9)11‘Here is what the story means. The seed is God’s message.12The seed on the path stands for God’s message in the hearts of those who hear. But then the devil comes. He takes away the message from their hearts. He does it so they won’t believe. Then they can’t be saved.13The seed on rocky ground stands for those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But they have no roots. They believe for a while. But when they are tested, they fall away from the faith.14The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear the message. But as they go on their way, they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures. So they do not reach full growth.15But the seed on good soil stands for those with an honest and good heart. Those people hear the message. They keep it in their hearts. They remain faithful and produce a good crop.
A lamp on a stand
16‘No one lights a lamp and then hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand. Then those who come in can see its light.17What is hidden will be seen. And what is out of sight will be brought into the open and made known.18So be careful how you listen. Whoever has something will be given more. Whoever has nothing, even what they think they have will be taken away from them.’
Jesus’ mother and brothers
19Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see him. But they could not get near him because of the crowd.20Someone told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside. They want to see you.’21He replied, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and do what it says.’
Jesus calms the storm
22One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and left.23As they sailed, Jesus fell asleep. A storm came down on the lake. It was so bad that the boat was about to sink. They were in great danger.24The disciples went and woke Jesus up. They said, ‘Master! Master! We’re going to drown!’ He got up and ordered the wind and the huge waves to stop. The storm quietened down. It was completely calm.25‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. They were amazed and full of fear. They asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the waves, and they obey him.’
Jesus heals a man controlled by demons
26Jesus and his disciples sailed to the area of the Gerasenes across the lake from Galilee.27When Jesus stepped onto the shore, he was met by a man from the town. The man was controlled by demons. For a long time he had not worn clothes or lived in a house. He lived in the tombs.28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet. He shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Jesus, Son of the Most High God, what do you want with me? I beg you, don’t hurt me!’29This was because Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times the spirit had taken hold of him. The man’s hands and feet were chained, and he was kept under guard. But he had broken his chains. And then the demon had forced him to go out into lonely places in the countryside.30Jesus asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Legion’, he replied, because many demons had gone into him.31And they begged Jesus again and again not to order them to go into the Abyss.32A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into the pigs. And he allowed it.33When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs. Then the herd rushed down the steep bank. They ran into the lake and drowned.34Those who were tending the pigs saw what had happened. They ran off and reported it in the town and countryside.35The people went out to see what had happened. Then they came to Jesus. They found the man who was now free of the demons. He was sitting at Jesus’ feet. He was dressed and thinking clearly. All this made the people afraid.36Those who had seen it told the others how the man who had been controlled by demons was now healed.37Then all the people who lived in the area of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them. They were filled with fear. So he got into the boat and left.38The man who was now free of the demons begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away. He said to him,39‘Return home and tell how much God has done for you.’ So the man went away. He told people all over town how much Jesus had done for him.
Jesus heals a dead girl and a suffering woman
40When Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him. They were all expecting him.41Then a man named Jairus came. He was a synagogue leader. He fell at Jesus’ feet and begged Jesus to come to his house.42His only daughter was dying. She was about 12 years old. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.43A woman was there who had an illness that made her bleed. Her illness had lasted for 12 years. No one could heal her.44She came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his clothes. Right away her bleeding stopped.45‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. Everyone said they didn’t do it. Then Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pushing against you.’46But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me. I know that power has gone out from me.’47The woman realised that people would notice her. Shaking with fear, she came and fell at his feet. In front of everyone, she told why she had touched him. She also told how she had been healed in an instant.48Then he said to her, ‘Dear woman, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’49While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus. Jairus was the synagogue leader. ‘Your daughter is dead,’ the messenger said. ‘Don’t bother the teacher anymore.’50Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just believe. She will be healed.’51When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let everyone go in with him. He took only Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother.52During this time, all the people were crying and sobbing loudly over the child. ‘Stop crying!’ Jesus said. ‘She is not dead. She is sleeping.’53They laughed at him. They knew she was dead.54But he took her by the hand and said, ‘My child, get up!’55Her spirit returned, and right away she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat.56Her parents were amazed. But Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.
Luke 8
English Standard Version
Women Accompanying Jesus
1Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, (Mr 6:6; Lu 4:43)2and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, (Mt 27:55; Mt 27:56; Mt 27:61; Mt 28:1; Mr 15:40; Mr 16:9; Lu 23:49; Lu 23:55; Lu 24:10; Joh 19:25; Joh 20:1; Joh 20:18; Ac 1:14)3and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them[1] out of their means. (Lu 24:10)
The Parable of the Sower
4And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable, (Mt 13:1; Mr 4:1)5“A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. (Isa 55:10; Am 9:13)6And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. (Joh 15:6)7And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. (Jer 4:3)8And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Ge 26:12; Mt 11:15)
The Purpose of the Parables
9And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant,10he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ (Isa 6:9; Mt 11:25; Mt 13:13; Mt 19:11; Ro 16:25; 1Co 2:6; Col 1:27; 1Jo 2:20; 1Jo 2:27)11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. (Mt 13:18; Mr 2:2; Mr 4:13; Mr 4:33; Lu 1:2; Ac 8:4; Jas 1:21)12The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. (Mr 16:16)13And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. (Isa 58:2; Eze 33:31; Ho 6:4; Mr 6:20; Joh 5:35; Ga 1:6; Ga 5:7; 1Ti 4:1; Heb 3:12)14And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. (Mt 6:25; Jas 1:11)15As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience. (Ho 14:8; Joh 15:5; Php 1:11; Col 1:6; Heb 10:36; Jas 5:7)
A Lamp Under a Jar
16“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, so that those who enter may see the light. (Mt 5:15; Mr 4:21; Lu 11:33)17For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. (Mt 10:26; Lu 12:2; 1Ti 5:25)18Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” (Mt 13:12; Lu 8:11)
Jesus’ Mother and Brothers
19Then his mother and his brothers[2] came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. (Mt 12:46; Mt 13:55; Mr 3:31; Mr 6:3; Joh 2:12; Joh 7:3; Joh 7:5; Joh 7:10; Ac 1:14; 1Co 9:5; Ga 1:19)20And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” (Lu 11:28; Jas 1:22)
Jesus Calms a Storm
22One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, (Mt 8:23; Mr 4:36; Lu 5:1; Lu 8:33; Joh 6:16)23and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. (Lu 8:22)24And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. (Ps 65:7; Ps 104:7; Mt 14:32; Mr 6:51; Lu 4:39)25He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?” (Mr 1:27; Lu 5:9; Joh 14:27)
Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon
26Then they sailed to the country of the Gerasenes,[3] which is opposite Galilee. (Mt 8:28; Mr 5:1)27When Jesus[4] had stepped out on land, there met him a man from the city who had demons. For a long time he had worn no clothes, and he had not lived in a house but among the tombs. (Re 18:2)28When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, do not torment me.” (Ge 14:18; Nu 24:16; Ps 57:2; Isa 14:14; Da 3:26; Mt 14:33; Mr 1:23; Mr 1:26; Lu 1:32; Lu 4:3; Lu 4:9; Lu 4:33; Lu 6:35; Ac 8:7; Ac 16:17)29For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. (For many a time it had seized him. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and shackles, but he would break the bonds and be driven by the demon into the desert.) (Mt 12:43; Lu 11:24)30Jesus then asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” for many demons had entered him. (Mt 26:53)31And they begged him not to command them to depart into the abyss. (Re 9:1)32Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him to let them enter these. So he gave them permission.33Then the demons came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and drowned. (Lu 8:22)34When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country.35Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. (Lu 8:27; Lu 10:39)36And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed[5] man had been healed.37Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. (Lu 5:8; Ac 16:39)38The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,39“Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him. (Ps 66:16; Lu 5:14)
Jesus Heals a Woman and Jairus’s Daughter
40Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. (Lu 9:11)41And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus’ feet, he implored him to come to his house, (Mt 9:18; Mr 5:22; Lu 13:14; Ac 13:15; Ac 18:8; Ac 18:17)42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him. (Mr 3:9; Lu 7:12; Lu 8:45)43And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians,[6] she could not be healed by anyone. (Le 15:25; Mr 12:44; Lu 21:4)44She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased. (Nu 15:38; De 22:12; Mt 14:36; Mt 15:28; Mt 17:18; Mt 23:5)45And Jesus said, “Who was it that touched me?” When all denied it, Peter[7] said, “Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!”46But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me.” (Lu 5:17; Lu 6:19; Ac 10:38)47And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.48And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.” (Lu 7:50)49While he was still speaking, someone from the ruler’s house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the Teacher any more.” (Lu 7:6; Lu 8:41; Joh 11:28)50But Jesus on hearing this answered him, “Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well.”51And when he came to the house, he allowed no one to enter with him, except Peter and John and James, and the father and mother of the child. (Mr 3:17; Mr 14:33; Lu 9:28)52And all were weeping and mourning for her, but he said, “Do not weep, for she is not dead but sleeping.” (Mt 11:17; Lu 7:13; Lu 23:27; Joh 11:4; Joh 11:11; Ac 20:10)53And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.54But taking her by the hand he called, saying, “Child, arise.” (Mt 11:5; Mr 1:31; Lu 7:14; Lu 7:22; Joh 11:43)55And her spirit returned, and she got up at once. And he directed that something should be given her to eat. (Jud 15:19; 1Sa 30:12)56And her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had happened. (Mt 8:4)