Luke 8

AUV(i) 1 And it happened soon after this that Jesus went through one town and village after another, preaching and proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of God. [Traveling] with Him were the twelve apostles 2 and certain women who had been healed from [domination by] evil spirits and diseases. [These women were] Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven evil spirits had been driven out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s property manager, and Susanna and many others. These [all] had provided the material support for the group from their own means. 4 Then when a large crowd assembled and people from every town were coming to Jesus, He told them this parable [i.e., a brief story to illustrate His teaching]: 5 A farmer went out [to his field] to plant grain. And as he sowed [i.e., scattering seeds by hand], some of it landed along side of the road; it was stepped on by people and [eventually] birds of the sky came and ate it. 6 And other [seed] fell on rocky ground and as soon as it started to grow, it [quickly] withered away, because it had no moisture. 7 And other [seed] fell among thorns, which grew up with it and [eventually] choked out [the tender sprouts]. 8 And [still] other [seed] fell into fertile soil; it grew and produced a crop of one hundred times [as much as was planted]. As He said these things, He called out, “The person who has ears to hear with ought to listen [to this] carefully.” 9 Then Jesus’ disciples asked Him what this parable meant. 10 And He said to them, “You [disciples] are being given an understanding of the secrets of the kingdom of God, but the rest of the people [are being told] in parables, so that [even though they appear to be] seeing, they will not [actually] see; and [even though they seem to] hear, they will not understand. 11 Now [the meaning of] the parable is this: The seed represents the word of God. 12 And those people [represented by the seed falling] along side of the road are those who have heard the word [of God], but the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they do not believe it and receive salvation. 13 And those people [represented by the seed falling] on rocky ground are those who, upon hearing the word [of God], accept it gladly, but since they have no root [system], they believe it for [only] awhile, and [then] in times of trial fall away [from God]. 14 And those people [represented by the seed] that fell among thorns are the ones who have heard [the word], and as they go about their business, they become choked by worry, by money and by worldly pleasures, and produce no mature crop. 15 And those people [represented by seed falling] in the fertile soil are those who possess a good and honest heart when they hear the word [of God]. They hold on to it and patiently [continue until they] produce a crop. 16 And no one lights an [olive oil] lamp and then covers it with a basket or puts it under a bed. But he places it on a stand so that those entering [the house] will see [by] the light. 17 For there is nothing done in obscurity that will not be made known [openly], and nothing done secretly that will not [eventually] become known and be revealed. 18 Pay attention to how you listen, for to the person who [already] has something, [more] will be given, but from the person who has [virtually] nothing, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.” 19 Then Jesus’ mother and [half-] brothers came to Him, but they could not get near Him because of the [large] crowd. 20 And it was told to Him [by someone], “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside wanting to see you.” 21 But He replied to them, “My mother and my brothers are those people who hear God’s word and obey it.” 22 Now it happened on one of those days that Jesus entered a boat with His disciples. He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side” [i.e., the east side of Lake Galilee]; so they launched out. 23 But while they were sailing, Jesus fell asleep. A windstorm blew down on the lake and [the boat] began filling with water so they were in great danger [of sinking]. 24 The disciples approached Jesus and woke Him, shouting, “Master, Master, we are sinking.” And He woke up and spoke sternly to the wind and the raging water; [then] the storm [immediately] stopped and [everything] became calm. 25 Then He said to the disciples, “Where is your faith?” They became afraid and were amazed, saying to one another, “Who can this [man] be, that he can even command the winds and the water and they obey him?” 26 [Finally] they arrived at the district of the Gerasenes, which is opposite [i.e., across the lake from the province of] Galilee. [Note: Matt. 8:28 says ‘Gadara.’ Geresa and Gadara were two towns about twelve miles apart in the same region east of Lake Galilee]. 27 And when He stepped out [of the boat] onto the shore, He was met by a certain man from the town, who was dominated by evil spirits. He had not worn any clothes for a long time and lived in the graveyard instead of a house. 28 And when he saw Jesus, he fell at His feet [i.e., in worship. See Mark 5:6] and shouted out with a loud voice saying, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Highest God? I beg you, do not torture me.” 29 For Jesus was commanding the evil spirits to be driven out of the man, because they had been controlling him for a long time. The man was continually being guarded and his hands and feet were bound with chains. [Sometimes] he broke loose from the chains and was driven into the desert by the evil spirits. 30 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” And he answered, “ [My name is] ‘Legion’” [Note: This word means a number consisting of between 5,000 and 6,000], for many evil spirits had entered the man. 31 And the evil spirits begged Jesus not to require them to go away into the “pit” [Note: This appears to be the place reserved for the devil and his evil spirits. See Rev. 9:1-11; 20:1-3]. 32 Now a herd of many [wild?] hogs was grazing on a [nearby] mountain, so the evil spirits begged Jesus to give them permission to enter [the bodies of] the hogs. So, He gave them permission [to do it]. 33 Then the evil spirits went out of the man and entered the hogs. The herd [immediately] rushed down the cliff into the lake and was drowned. 34 And when those who had been grazing the hogs saw what had happened, they ran and told it in the town and [around] the country. 35 People went out to see [i.e., to find out] what had happened. And [when] they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the evil spirits had been driven out sitting down at Jesus’ feet with his clothes on and perfectly sane, they were afraid. 36 Those who saw this told others how the man dominated by evil spirits was restored. 37 Then all the people around the district of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave their area because they were gripped with great fear. So, He entered a boat and returned. 38 But the man from whom the evil spirits had been driven out begged Jesus to allow him to travel with Him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your house and tell people about the great things God has done for you.” So, he went on his way, proclaiming throughout the whole town [i.e., Gerasa. See verse 26] the great things Jesus had done for him. 40 Then as Jesus returned [i.e., to the northwest shore of the lake, probably to the vicinity of Capernaum], a crowd was waiting for Him and welcomed Him. 41 And just then an official of the [Jewish] synagogue named Jairus came to Him and fell at His feet [i.e., worshiping. See Matt. 9:18] and begged Him to go to his house, 42 for the official’s only daughter, who was about twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus was going, large crowds pressed in on Him. 43 Then a woman, who had been bleeding for twelve years, and who had spent all her income on doctors without being healed by any of them, 44 came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of His robe. Immediately her bleeding stopped. 45 Jesus said, “Who touched me?” And when everyone denied [doing it], Peter and the disciples said, “Master, many people are pressing in on you and crowding you.” 46 But Jesus replied, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that [healing] power had gone out from me.” 47 And when the woman realized that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling [with fear] and fell down in front of Him, declaring before all the people why she had touched Him and how she had been immediately healed. 48 Then Jesus said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace.” 49 While He was still speaking, someone came from the synagogue official’s house, saying [to him], “Your daughter is dead; do not bother the Teacher.” 50 But when Jesus heard this, He said [to the man], “Do not be afraid. Just believe [i.e., in my power to restore your daughter] and she will be made well [i.e., restored to life].” 51 And when Jesus came to the [synagogue official’s] house, He did not allow anyone to enter with Him except Peter, James, John and the girl’s father and mother. 52 And all the people [in the house] were crying and beating their chests in mourning, so Jesus said [to them], “Do not cry, for the girl is not [really] dead but [only] sleeping.” 53 And they laughed at Him scornfully, knowing that she was [already] dead. 54 But taking her by the hand, He called to her, saying, “Child, get up.” 55 And immediately her spirit returned and she stood up. Then Jesus ordered them to give her something to eat. 56 Her parents were amazed, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.