Luke

Soon afterwards, he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of God’s Kingdom. With him were the twelve,

and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others who served them† from their possessions.

When a great multitude came together and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable:

“The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.

Some seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

Some fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it and choked it.

Some fell into the good ground and grew and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Those along the road are those who hear; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root. They believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.

What fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life; and they bring no fruit to maturity.

Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.

For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.

Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”

His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.

Some people told him, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.”

Now on one of those days, he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” So they launched out.

But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.

They came to him and awoke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are dying!” He awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; then they ceased, and it was calm.*

He said to them, “Where is your faith?” Being afraid, they marveled, saying to one another, “Who is this then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?”

Then they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs.

When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torment me!”

For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bonds apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. Then he allowed them.

The demons came out of the man and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed.

All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the boat and returned.

But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

“Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you.” He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.