1Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there.2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.3Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, ‘Stand up in front of everyone.’4Then Jesus asked them, ‘Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?’ But they remained silent.5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Crowds follow Jesus
7Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed.8When they heard all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon.9Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him.10For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him.11Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, ‘You are the Son of God.’12But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
Jesus appoints the Twelve
13Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him.14He appointed twelve[1] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach15and to have authority to drive out demons.16These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter),17James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means ‘sons of thunder’),18Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Jesus accused by his family and by teachers of the law
20Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat.21When his family[2] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.’22And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.’23So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: ‘How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.26And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come.27In fact, no-one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house.28Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter,29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.’30He said this because they were saying, ‘He has an impure spirit.’31Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him.32A crowd was sitting round him, and they told him, ‘Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.’33‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ he asked.34Then he looked at those seated in a circle round him and said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers!35Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.’
1Another time Jesus went into the synagogue. A man with a weak and twisted hand was there.2Some Pharisees were trying to find fault with Jesus. They watched him closely. They wanted to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath day.3Jesus spoke to the man with the weak and twisted hand. ‘Stand up in front of everyone,’ he said.4Then Jesus asked them, ‘What does the Law say we should do on the Sabbath day? Should we do good? Or should we do evil? Should we save life? Or should we kill?’ But no one answered.5Jesus looked around at them in anger. He was very upset because their hearts were stubborn. Then he said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He stretched it out, and his hand had become as good as new.6Then the Pharisees went out and began to make plans with the Herodians. They wanted to kill Jesus.
Crowds follow Jesus
7Jesus went off to the Sea of Galilee with his disciples. A large crowd from Galilee followed.8People heard about all that Jesus was doing. And many came to him. They came from Judea, Jerusalem and Idumea. They came from the lands east of the River Jordan. And they came from the area around Tyre and Sidon.9Because of the crowd, Jesus told his disciples to get a small boat ready for him. This would keep the people from crowding him.10Jesus had healed many people. So those who were ill were pushing forward to touch him.11When people controlled by evil spirits saw him, they fell down in front of him. The spirits shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’12But Jesus ordered them not to tell people about him.
Jesus appoints the 12 disciples
13Jesus went up on a mountainside. He called for certain people to come to him, and they came.14He appointed 12 of them so that they would be with him. He would also send them out to preach.15And he gave them authority to drive out demons.16So Jesus appointed the 12 disciples. Simon was one of them. Jesus gave him the name Peter.17There were James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John. Jesus gave them the name Boanerges. Boanerges means Sons of Thunder.18There were also Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, and James, son of Alphaeus. And there were Thaddaeus and Simon the Zealot.19Judas Iscariot was one of them too. He was the one who was later going to hand Jesus over to his enemies.
Jesus is accused by teachers of the law
20Jesus entered a house. Again a crowd gathered. It was so large that Jesus and his disciples were not even able to eat.21His family heard about this. So they went to take charge of him. They said, ‘He is out of his mind.’22Some teachers of the law were there. They had come down from Jerusalem. They said, ‘He is controlled by Beelzebul! He is driving out demons by the power of the prince of demons.’23So Jesus called them over to him. He began to speak to them using stories. He said, ‘How can Satan drive out Satan?24If a kingdom fights against itself, it can’t stand.25If a family is divided, it can’t stand.26And if Satan fights against himself, and his helpers are divided, he can’t stand. That is the end of him.27In fact, none of you can enter a strong man’s house unless you tie him up first. Then you can steal things from his house.28What I’m about to tell you is true. Everyone’s sins and evil words against God will be forgiven.29But whoever speaks evil things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven. Their guilt will last for ever.’30Jesus said this because the teachers of the law were saying, ‘He has an evil spirit.’
Jesus’ mother and brothers
31Jesus’ mother and brothers came and stood outside. They sent someone in to get him.32A crowd was sitting around Jesus. They told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers are outside. They are looking for you.’33‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ he asked.34Then Jesus looked at the people sitting in a circle around him. He said, ‘Here is my mother! Here are my brothers!35Anyone who does what God wants is my brother or sister or mother.’