Luke 8

Jesus’ Ministry and the Help of Women

8:1 Some time1 afterward2 he went on through towns3 and villages, preaching and proclaiming the good news4 of the kingdom of God.5 The6 twelve were with him, 8:2 and also some women7 who had been healed of evil spirits and disabilities:8 Mary9 (called Magdalene), from whom seven demons had gone out, 8:3 and Joanna the wife of Cuza10 (Herod’s11 household manager),12 Susanna, and many others who provided for them13 out of their own resources.

The Parable of the Sower

8:4 While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus14 from one town after another,15 he spoke to them16 in a parable: 8:5 “A sower went out to sow17 his seed.18 And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled on, and the wild birds19 devoured it. 8:6 Other seed fell on rock,20 and when it came up, it withered because it had no moisture. 8:7 Other seed fell among the thorns,21 and they grew up with it and choked22 it. 8:8 But23 other seed fell on good soil and grew,24 and it produced a hundred times as much grain.”25 As he said this,26 he called out, “The one who has ears to hear had better listen!”27

8:9 Then28 his disciples asked him what this parable meant.29 8:10 He30 said, “You have been given31 the opportunity to know32 the secrets33 of the kingdom of God,34 but for others they are in parables, so that although they see they may not see, and although they hear they may not understand.35

8:11 “Now the parable means36 this: The seed is the word of God. 8:12 Those along the path are the ones who have heard; then the devil37 comes and takes away the word38 from their hearts, so that they may not believe39 and be saved. 8:13 Those40 on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while,41 but42 in a time of testing43 fall away.44 8:14 As for the seed that45 fell among thorns, these are the ones who hear, but46 as they go on their way they are choked47 by the worries and riches and pleasures of life,48 and their fruit does not mature.49 8:15 But as for the seed that landed on good soil, these are the ones who, after hearing50 the word, cling to it51 with an honest and good52 heart, and bear fruit with steadfast endurance.53

Showing the Light

8:16 “No one lights54 a lamp55 and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand so that those who come in can see the light.56 8:17 For nothing is hidden57 that will not be revealed,58 and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. 8:18 So listen carefully,59 for whoever has will be given more, but60 whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has61 will be taken from him.”

Jesus’ True Family

8:19 Now Jesus’62 mother and his brothers63 came to him, but64 they could not get near him because of the crowd. 8:20 So65 he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” 8:21 But he replied66 to them, “My mother and my brothers are those67 who hear the word of God and do it.”68

Stilling of a Storm

8:22 One69 day Jesus70 got into a boat71 with his disciples and said to them, “Let’s go across to the other side of the lake.” So72 they set out, 8:23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. Now a violent windstorm73 came down on the lake,74 and the boat75 started filling up with water, and they were in danger. 8:24 They76 came77 and woke him, saying, “Master, Master,78 we are about to die!” So79 he got up and rebuked80 the wind and the raging waves;81 they died down, and it was calm. 8:25 Then82 he said to them, “Where is your faith?”83 But they were afraid and amazed,84 saying to one another, “Who then is this? He commands even the winds and the water,85 and they obey him!”

Healing of a Demoniac

8:26 So86 they sailed over to the region of the Gerasenes,87 which is opposite88 Galilee. 8:27 As89 Jesus90 stepped ashore,91 a certain man from the town92 met him who was possessed by demons.93 For a long time this man94 had worn no clothes and had not lived in a house, but among95 the tombs. 8:28 When he saw96 Jesus, he cried out, fell97 down before him, and shouted with a loud voice, “Leave me alone,98 Jesus, Son of the Most High99 God! I beg you, do not torment100 me!” 8:29 For Jesus101 had started commanding102 the evil103 spirit to come out of the man. (For it had seized him many times, so104 he would be bound with chains and shackles105 and kept under guard. But106 he would break the restraints and be driven by the demon into deserted107 places.)108 8:30 Jesus then109 asked him, “What is your name?” He110 said, “Legion,”111 because many demons had entered him. 8:31 And they began to beg112 him not to order113 them to depart into the abyss.114 8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside,115 and the demonic spirits116 begged Jesus117 to let them go into them. He gave them permission.118 8:33 So119 the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd of pigs120 rushed down the steep slope into the lake and drowned. 8:34 When121 the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran off and spread the news122 in the town123 and countryside. 8:35 So124 the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus. They125 found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 8:36 Those126 who had seen it told them how the man who had been demon-possessed had been healed.127 8:37 Then128 all the people of the Gerasenes129 and the surrounding region130 asked Jesus131 to leave them alone,132 for they were seized with great fear.133 So134 he got into the boat and left.135 8:38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go136 with him, but Jesus137 sent him away, saying, 8:39 “Return to your home,138 and declare139 what God has done for you.”140 So141 he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole town142 what Jesus143 had done for him.

Restoration and Healing

8:40 Now when Jesus returned,144 the crowd welcomed him, because they were all waiting for him. 8:41 Then145 a man named Jairus, who was a ruler146 of the synagogue,147 came up. Falling148 at Jesus’ feet, he pleaded149 with him to come to his house, 8:42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying.150

As Jesus was on his way, the crowds pressed151 around him. 8:43 Now152 a woman was there who had been suffering from a hemorrhage153 for twelve years154 but could not be healed by anyone. 8:44 She155 came up behind Jesus156 and touched the edge157 of his cloak,158 and at once the bleeding159 stopped. 8:45 Then160 Jesus asked,161 “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter162 said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing163 against you!” 8:46 But Jesus said, “Someone touched me, for I know that power has gone out164 from me.” 8:47 When165 the woman saw that she could not escape notice,166 she came trembling and fell down before him. In167 the presence of all the people, she explained why168 she had touched him and how she had been immediately healed. 8:48 Then169 he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well.170 Go in peace.”

8:49 While he was still speaking, someone from the synagogue ruler’s171 house came and said, “Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.” 8:50 But when Jesus heard this, he told172 him, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”173 8:51 Now when he came to the house, Jesus174 did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John,175 and James, and the child’s father and mother. 8:52 Now they were all176 wailing and mourning177 for her, but he said, “Stop your weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” 8:53 And they began making fun178 of him, because they knew179 that she was dead.180 8:54 But Jesus181 gently took her by the hand and said,182 “Child, get up.” 8:55 Her183 spirit returned,184 and she got up immediately. Then185 he told them to give her something to eat. 8:56 Her186 parents were astonished, but he ordered them to tell no one187 what had happened.

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