Worthy.Bible » Parallel » Luke » Chapter 8 » Verse 1-56

Luke 8:1-56 King James Version (KJV)

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

2 And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.

4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:

5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.

6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.

7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

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

12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.

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

14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.

17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

19 Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

20 And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.

22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy.

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him.

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27 And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house, but in the tombs.

28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God most high? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 (For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept bound with chains and in fetters; and he brake the bands, and was driven of the devil into the wilderness.)

30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.

32 And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them.

33 Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were choked.

34 When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.

35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

36 They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.

37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.

38 Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.

41 And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

42 For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.

50 But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

51 And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

52 And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

55 And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.


Luke 8:1-56 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 And G2532 it came to pass G1096 afterward, G1722 G2517 that G2532 he G846 went G1353 throughout every G2596 city G4172 and G2532 village, G2968 preaching G2784 and G2532 shewing the glad tidings G2097 of the kingdom G932 of God: G2316 and G2532 the twelve G1427 were with G4862 him, G846

2 And G2532 certain G5100 women, G1135 which G3739 had been G2258 healed G2323 of G575 evil G4190 spirits G4151 and G2532 infirmities, G769 Mary G3137 called G2564 Magdalene, G3094 out of G575 whom G3739 went G1831 seven G2033 devils, G1140

3 And G2532 Joanna G2489 the wife G1135 of Chuza G5529 Herod's G2264 steward, G2012 and G2532 Susanna, G4677 and G2532 many G4183 others, G2087 which G3748 ministered G1247 unto him G846 of G575 their G846 substance. G5224

4 And G1161 when much G4183 people G3793 were gathered together, G4896 and G2532 were come G1975 to G4314 him G846 out of every G2596 city, G4172 he spake G2036 by G1223 a parable: G3850

5 A sower G4687 went out G1831 to sow G4687 his G846 seed: G4703 and G2532 as G1722 he G846 sowed, G4687 some G3739 G3303 fell G4098 by G3844 the way side; G3598 and G2532 it was trodden down, G2662 and G2532 the fowls G4071 of the air G3772 devoured G2719 it. G846

6 And G2532 some G2087 fell G4098 upon G1909 a rock; G4073 and G2532 as soon as it was sprung up, G5453 it withered away, G3583 because G1223 it lacked G3361 G2192 moisture. G2429

7 And G2532 some G2087 fell G4098 among G1722 G3319 thorns; G173 and G2532 the thorns G173 sprang up with it, G4855 and choked G638 G1970 it. G846

8 And G2532 other G2087 fell G4098 on G1909 good G18 ground, G1093 and G2532 sprang up, G5453 and bare G4160 fruit G2590 an hundredfold. G1542 And when he had said G3004 these things, G5023 he cried, G5455 He that hath G2192 ears G3775 to hear, G191 let him hear. G191

9 And G1161 his G846 disciples G3101 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 might G1498 this G3778 parable G3850 be? G1498

10 And G1161 he said, G2036 Unto you G5213 it is given G1325 to know G1097 the mysteries G3466 of the kingdom G932 of God: G2316 but G1161 to others G3062 in G1722 parables; G3850 that G2443 seeing G991 they might G991 not G3361 see, G991 and G2532 hearing G191 they might G4920 not G3361 understand. G4920

11 Now G1161 the parable G3850 is G2076 this: G3778 The seed G4703 is G2076 the word G3056 of God. G2316

12 Those G1161 by G3844 the way side G3598 are G1526 they that hear; G191 then G1534 cometh G2064 the devil, G1228 and G2532 taketh away G142 the word G3056 out of G575 their G846 hearts, G2588 lest G3363 they should believe G4100 and be saved. G4982

13 G1161 They on G1909 the rock G4073 are they, which, G3739 when G3752 they hear, G191 receive G1209 the word G3056 with G3326 joy; G5479 and G2532 these G3778 have G2192 no G3756 root, G4491 which G3739 for G4314 a while G2540 believe, G4100 and G2532 in G1722 time G2540 of temptation G3986 fall away. G868

14 And G1161 that which fell G4098 among G1519 thorns G173 are G1526 they, G3778 which, when they have heard, G191 go forth, G4198 and G2532 are choked G4846 with G5259 cares G3308 and G2532 riches G4149 and G2532 pleasures G2237 of this life, G979 and G2532 bring G5052 no G3756 fruit to perfection. G5052

15 But G1161 that on G1722 the good G2570 ground G1093 are G1526 they, G3778 which G3748 in G1722 an honest G2570 and G2532 good G18 heart, G2588 having heard G191 the word, G3056 keep G2722 it, and G2532 bring forth fruit G2592 with G1722 patience. G5281

16 G1161 No man, G3762 when he hath lighted G681 a candle, G3088 covereth G2572 it G846 with a vessel, G4632 or G2228 putteth G5087 it under G5270 a bed; G2825 but G235 setteth G2007 it on G1909 a candlestick, G3087 that G2443 they which enter in G1531 may see G991 the light. G5457

17 For G1063 nothing G3756 is G2076 secret, G2927 that G3739 shall G1096 not G3756 be made G1096 manifest; G5318 neither G3761 any thing hid, G614 that G3739 shall G1097 not G3756 be known G1097 and G2532 come G2064 abroad. G1519 G5318

18 Take heed G991 therefore G3767 how G4459 ye hear: G191 for G1063 whosoever G3739 G302 hath, G2192 to him G846 shall be given; G1325 and G2532 whosoever G3739 G302 hath G2192 not, G3361 from G575 him G846 shall be taken G142 even G2532 that which G3739 he seemeth G1380 to have. G2192

19 Then G1161 came G3854 to G4314 him G846 his mother G3384 and G2532 his G846 brethren, G80 and G2532 could G1410 not G3756 come G4940 at him G846 for G1223 the press. G3793

20 And G2532 it was told G518 him G846 by certain which said, G3004 Thy G4675 mother G3384 and G2532 thy G4675 brethren G80 stand G2476 without, G1854 desiring G2309 to see G1492 thee. G4571

21 And G1161 he answered G611 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 My G3450 mother G3384 and G2532 my G3450 brethren G80 are G1526 these G3778 which G3588 hear G191 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and G2532 do G4160 it. G846

22 Now G2532 it came to pass G1096 on G1722 a certain G3391 day, G2250 that G2532 he G846 went G1684 into G1519 a ship G4143 with G2532 his G846 disciples: G3101 and G2532 he said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Let us go over G1330 unto G1519 the other side G4008 of the lake. G3041 And G2532 they launched forth. G321

23 But G1161 as they G846 sailed G4126 he fell asleep: G879 and G2532 there came down G2597 a storm G2978 of wind G417 on G1519 the lake; G3041 and G2532 they were filled G4845 with water, and G2532 were in jeopardy. G2793

24 And G1161 they came to him, G4334 and awoke G1326 him, G846 saying, G3004 Master, G1988 master, G1988 we perish. G622 Then G1161 he arose, G1453 and rebuked G2008 the wind G417 and G2532 the raging G2830 of the water: G5204 and G2532 they ceased, G3973 and G2532 there was G1096 a calm. G1055

25 And G1161 he said G2036 unto them, G846 Where G4226 is G2076 your G5216 faith? G4102 And G1161 they being afraid G5399 wondered, G2296 saying G3004 one to another, G4314 G240 What manner of man G5101 G686 is G2076 this! G3778 for G3754 he commandeth G2004 even G2532 the winds G417 and G2532 water, G5204 and G2532 they obey G5219 him. G846

26 And G2532 they arrived G2668 at G1519 the country G5561 of the Gadarenes, G1046 which G3748 is G2076 over against G495 Galilee. G1056

27 And G1161 when he G846 went forth G1831 to G1909 land, G1093 there met G5221 him G846 out of G1537 the city G4172 a certain G5100 man, G435 which G3739 had G2192 devils G1140 long G1537 G2425 time, G5550 and G2532 ware G1737 no G3756 clothes, G2440 neither G2532 G3756 abode G3306 in G1722 any house, G3614 but G235 in G1722 the tombs. G3418

28 When G1161 he saw G1492 Jesus, G2424 he cried out, G349 and G2532 fell down before G4363 him, G846 and G2532 with a loud G3173 voice G5456 said, G2036 What G5101 have I G1698 to do with G2532 thee, G4671 Jesus, G2424 thou Son G5207 of God G2316 most high? G5310 I beseech G1189 thee, G4675 torment G928 me G3165 not. G3361

29 (For G1063 he had commanded G3853 G3853 the unclean G169 spirit G4151 to come G1831 out of G575 the man. G444 For G1063 oftentimes G4183 G5550 it had caught G4884 him: G846 and G2532 he was kept G5442 bound G1196 with chains G254 and G2532 in fetters; G3976 and G2532 he brake G1284 the bands, G1199 and was driven G1643 of G5259 the devil G1142 into G1519 the wilderness.) G2048

30 And G1161 Jesus G2424 asked G1905 him, G846 saying, G3004 What G5101 is G2076 thy G4671 name? G3686 And G1161 he said, G2036 Legion: G3003 because G3754 many G4183 devils G1140 were entered G1525 into G1519 him. G846

31 And G2532 they besought G3870 G3870 him G846 that G3363 he would G2004 not G3363 command G2004 them G846 to go out G565 into G1519 the deep. G12

32 And G1161 there was G2258 there G1563 an herd G34 of many G2425 swine G5519 feeding G1006 on G1722 the mountain: G3735 and G2532 they besought G3870 him G846 that G2443 he would suffer G2010 them G846 to enter G1525 into G1519 them. G1565 And G2532 he suffered G2010 them. G846

33 Then G1161 went G1831 the devils G1140 out of G575 the man, G444 and entered G1525 into G1519 the swine: G5519 and G2532 the herd G34 ran G3729 violently down G2596 a steep G2911 place into G1519 the lake, G3041 and G2532 were choked. G638

34 When G1161 they that fed G1006 them saw G1492 what was done, G1096 they fled, G5343 and G2532 went G565 and told G518 it in G1519 the city G4172 and G2532 in G1519 the country. G68

35 Then G1161 they went out G1831 to see G1492 what was done; G1096 and G2532 came G2064 to G4314 Jesus, G2424 and G2532 found G2147 the man, G444 out of G575 whom G3739 the devils G1140 were departed, G1831 sitting G2521 at G3844 the feet G4228 of Jesus, G2424 clothed, G2439 and G2532 in his right mind: G4993 and G2532 they were afraid. G5399

36 G1161 They also G2532 which saw G1492 it told G518 them G846 by what means G4459 he that was possessed of the devils G1139 was healed. G4982

37 Then G2532 the whole G537 multitude G4128 of the country G4066 of the Gadarenes G1046 round about G4066 besought G2065 him G846 to depart G565 from G575 them; G846 for G3754 they were taken G4912 with great G3173 fear: G5401 and G1161 he G846 went up G1684 into G1519 the ship, G4143 and returned back again. G5290

38 Now G1161 the man G435 out of G575 whom G3739 the devils G1140 were departed G1831 besought G1189 him G846 that he might be G1511 with G4862 him: G846 but G1161 Jesus G2424 sent G630 him G846 away, G630 saying, G3004

39 Return G5290 to G1519 thine own G4675 house, G3624 and G2532 shew G1334 how great things G3745 God G2316 hath done G4160 unto thee. G4671 And G2532 he went his way, G565 and published G2784 throughout G2596 the whole G3650 city G4172 how great things G3745 Jesus G2424 had done G4160 unto him. G846

40 And G1161 it came to pass, G1096 that, when G1722 Jesus G2424 was returned, G5290 the people G3793 gladly received G588 him: G846 for G1063 they were G2258 all G3956 waiting for G4328 him. G846

41 And, G2532 behold, G2400 there came G2064 a man G435 named G3739 G3686 Jairus, G2383 and G2532 he G846 was G5225 a ruler G758 of the synagogue: G4864 and G2532 he fell down G4098 at G3844 Jesus' G2424 feet, G4228 and besought G3870 him G846 that he would come G1525 into G1519 his G846 house: G3624

42 For G3754 he G846 had G2258 one only G3439 daughter, G2364 about G5613 twelve G1427 years of age, G2094 and G2532 she G3778 G846 lay a dying. G599 But G1161 as G1722 he G846 went G5217 the people G3793 thronged G4846 him. G846

43 And G2532 a woman G1135 having G5607 G1722 an issue G4511 of blood G129 twelve G1427 years, G575 G2094 which G3748 had spent G4321 all G3650 her living G979 upon G1519 physicians, G2395 neither G3756 could G2480 be healed G2323 of G5259 any, G3762

44 Came G4334 behind G3693 him, and touched G680 the border G2899 of his G846 garment: G2440 and G2532 immediately G3916 her G846 issue G4511 of blood G129 stanched. G2476

45 And G2532 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Who G5101 touched G680 me? G3450 When G1161 all G3956 denied, G720 Peter G4074 and G2532 they that were with G3326 him G846 said, G2036 Master, G1988 the multitude G3793 throng G4912 thee G4571 and G2532 press G598 thee, and G2532 sayest G3004 thou, Who G5101 touched G680 me? G3450

46 And G1161 Jesus G2424 said, G2036 Somebody G5100 hath touched G680 me: G3450 for G1063 I G1473 perceive G1097 that virtue G1411 is gone G1831 out of G575 me. G1700

47 And G1161 when the woman G1135 saw G1492 that G3754 she was G2990 not G3756 hid, G2990 she came G2064 trembling, G5141 and G2532 falling down before G4363 him, G846 she declared G518 unto him G846 before G1799 all G3956 the people G2992 for G1223 what G3739 cause G156 she had touched G680 him, G846 and G2532 how G5613 she was healed G2390 immediately. G3916

48 And G1161 he said G2036 unto her, G846 Daughter, G2364 be of good comfort: G2293 thy G4675 faith G4102 hath made G4982 thee G4571 whole; G4982 go G4198 in G1519 peace. G1515

49 While he G846 yet G2089 spake, G2980 there cometh G2064 one G5100 from G3844 the ruler of the synagogue's G752 house, saying G3004 to him, G846 G3754 Thy G4675 daughter G2364 is dead; G2348 trouble G4660 not G3361 the Master. G1320

50 But G1161 when Jesus G2424 heard G191 it, he answered G611 him, G846 saying, G3004 Fear G5399 not: G3361 believe G4100 only, G3440 and G2532 she shall be made whole. G4982

51 And G1161 when he came G1525 into G1519 the house, G3614 he suffered G863 no G3756 man G3762 to go in, G1525 save G1508 Peter, G4074 and G2532 James, G2385 and G2532 John, G2491 and G2532 the father G3962 and G2532 the mother G3384 of the maiden. G3816

52 And G1161 all G3956 wept, G2799 and G2532 bewailed G2875 her: G846 but G1161 he said, G2036 Weep G2799 not; G3361 she is G599 not G3756 dead, G599 but G235 sleepeth. G2518

53 And G2532 they laughed G2606 him G846 to scorn, G2606 knowing G1492 that G3754 she was dead. G599

54 And G1161 he G846 put G1544 them all G3956 out, G1854 and G2532 took G2902 her G846 by the hand, G5495 and called, G5455 saying, G3004 Maid, G3816 arise. G1453

55 And G2532 her G846 spirit G4151 came again, G1994 and G2532 she arose G450 straightway: G3916 and G2532 he commanded G1299 to give G1325 her G846 meat. G5315

56 And G2532 her G846 parents G1118 were astonished: G1839 but G1161 he charged G3853 them G846 that they should tell G2036 no man G3367 what was done. G1096


Luke 8:1-56 American Standard (ASV)

1 And it came to pass soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good tidings of the kingdom of God, and with him the twelve,

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

3 and Joanna the wife of Chuzas Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto them of their substance.

4 And when a great multitude came together, and they of every city resorted unto him, he spake by a parable:

5 The sower went forth to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it.

6 And other fell on the rock; and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

7 And other fell amidst the thorns; and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.

8 And other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him what this parable might be.

10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

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

12 And those by the way side are they that have heard; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

13 And those on the rock `are' they who, when they have heard, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of `this' life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 And that in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it fast, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light.

17 For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor `anything' secret, that shall not be known and come to light.

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.

19 And there came to him his mother and brethren, and they could not come at him for the crowd.

20 And it was told him, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.

21 But he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these that hear the word of God, and do it.

22 Now it came to pass on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples; and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake: and they launched forth.

23 But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filling `with water', and were in jeopardy.

24 And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. And he awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And being afraid they marvelled, saying one to another, Who then is this, that he commandeth even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

26 And they arrived at the country of the Gerasenes, which is over against Galilee.

27 And when he was come forth upon the land, there met him a certain man out of the city, who had demons; and for a long time he had worn no clothes, and abode not in `any' house, but in the tombs.

28 And when he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee, torment me not.

29 For he was commanding the unclean spirit to come out from the man. For oftentimes it had seized him: and he was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters; and breaking the bands asunder, he was driven of the demon into the deserts.

30 And Jesus asked him, What is thy name? And he said, Legion; for many demons were entered into him.

31 And they entreated him that he would not command them to depart into the abyss.

32 Now there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they entreated him that he would give them leave to enter into them. And he gave them leave.

33 And the demons came out from the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the lake, and were drowned.

34 And when they that fed them saw what had come to pass, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

35 And they went out to see what had come to pass; and they came to Jesus, and found the man, from whom the demons were gone out, sitting, clothed and in his right mind, at the feet of Jesus: and they were afraid.

36 And they that saw it told them how he that was possessed with demons was made whole.

37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes round about asked him to depart from them, for they were holden with great fear: and he entered into a boat, and returned.

38 But the man from whom the demons were gone out prayed him that he might be with him: but he sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thy house, and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him.

40 And as Jesus returned, the multitude welcomed him; for they were all waiting for him.

41 And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him to come into his house;

42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.

43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any,

44 came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately the issue of her blood stanched.

45 And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and crush `thee'.

46 But Jesus said, Some one did touch me; for I perceived that power had gone forth from me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people for what cause she touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49 While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's `house', saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.

50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made whole.

51 And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.

52 And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.

53 And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.

54 But he, taking her by the hand, called, saying, Maiden, arise.

55 And her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately: and he commanded that `something' be given her to eat.

56 And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.


Luke 8:1-56 Young's Literal Translation (YLT)

1 And it came to pass thereafter, that he was going through every city and village, preaching and proclaiming good news of the reign of God, and the twelve `are' with him,

2 and certain women, who were healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary who is called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone forth,

3 and Joanna wife of Chuza, steward of Herod, and Susanna, and many others, who were ministering to him from their substance.

4 And a great multitude having gathered, and those who from city and city were coming unto him, he spake by a simile:

5 `The sower went forth to sow his seed, and in his sowing some indeed fell beside the way, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the heaven did devour it.

6 `And other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it did wither, through not having moisture.

7 `And other fell amidst the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with it, did choke it.

8 `And other fell upon the good ground, and having sprung up, it made fruit an hundred fold.' These things saying, he was calling, `He having ears to hear -- let him hear.'

9 And his disciples were questioning him, saying, `What may this simile be?'

10 And he said, `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of God, and to the rest in similes; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

11 `And this is the simile: The seed is the word of God,

12 and those beside the way are those hearing, then cometh the Devil, and taketh up the word from their heart, lest having believed, they may be saved.

13 `And those upon the rock: They who, when they may hear, with joy do receive the word, and these have no root, who for a time believe, and in time of temptation fall away.

14 `And that which fell to the thorns: These are they who have heard, and going forth, through anxieties, and riches, and pleasures of life, are choked, and bear not to completion.

15 `And that in the good ground: These are they, who in an upright and good heart, having heard the word, do retain `it', and bear fruit in continuance.

16 `And no one having lighted a lamp doth cover it with a vessel, or under a couch doth put `it'; but upon a lamp-stand he doth put `it', that those coming in may see the light,

17 for nothing is secret, that shall not become manifest, nor hid, that shall not be known, and become manifest.

18 `See, therefore, how ye hear, for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever may not have, also what he seemeth to have, shall be taken from him.'

19 And there came unto him his mother and brethren, and they were not able to get to him because of the multitude,

20 and it was told him, saying, `Thy mother and thy brethren do stand without, wishing to see thee;'

21 and he answering said unto them, `My mother and my brethren! they are those who the word of God are hearing, and doing.'

22 And it came to pass, on one of the days, that he himself went into a boat with his disciples, and he said unto them, `We may go over to the other side of the lake;' and they set forth,

23 and as they are sailing he fell deeply asleep, and there came down a storm of wind to the lake, and they were filling, and were in peril.

24 And having come near, they awoke him, saying, `Master, master, we perish;' and he, having arisen, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and there came a calm,

25 and he said to them, `Where is your faith?' and they being afraid did wonder, saying unto one another, `Who, then, is this, that even the winds he doth command, and the water, and they obey him?'

26 And they sailed down to the region of the Gadarenes, that is over-against Galilee,

27 and he having gone forth upon the land, there met him a certain man, out of the city, who had demons for a long time, and with a garment was not clothed, and in a house was not abiding, but in the tombs,

28 and having seen Jesus, and having cried out, he fell before him, and with a loud voice, said, `What -- to me and to thee, Jesus, Son of God Most High? I beseech thee, mayest thou not afflict me!'

29 For he commanded the unclean spirit to come forth from the man, for many times it had caught him, and he was being bound with chains and fetters -- guarded, and breaking asunder the bonds he was driven by the demons to the deserts.

30 And Jesus questioned him, saying, `What is thy name?' and he said, `Legion,' (because many demons were entered into him,)

31 and he was calling on him, that he may not command them to go away to the abyss,

32 and there was there a herd of many swine feeding in the mountain, and they were calling on him, that he might suffer them to enter into these, and he suffered them,

33 and the demons having gone forth from the man, did enter into the swine, and the herd rushed down the steep to the lake, and were choked.

34 And those feeding `them', having seen what was come to pass, fled, and having gone, told `it' to the city, and to the fields;

35 and they came forth to see what was come to pass, and they came unto Jesus, and found the man sitting, out of whom the demons had gone forth, clothed, and right-minded, at the feet of Jesus, and they were afraid;

36 and those also having seen `it', told them how the demoniac was saved.

37 And the whole multitude of the region of the Gadarenes round about asked him to go away from them, because with great fear they were pressed, and he having entered into the boat, did turn back.

38 And the man from whom the demons had gone forth was beseeching of him to be with him, and Jesus sent him away, saying,

39 `Turn back to thy house, and tell how great things God did to thee;' and he went away through all the city proclaiming how great things Jesus did to him.

40 And it came to pass, in the turning back of Jesus, the multitude received him, for they were all looking for him,

41 and lo, there came a man, whose name `is' Jairus, and he was a chief of the synagogue, and having fallen at the feet of Jesus, was calling on him to come to his house;

42 because he had an only daughter about twelve years `old', and she was dying. And in his going away, the multitudes were thronging him,

43 and a woman, having an issue of blood for twelve years, who, having spent on physicians all her living, was not able to be healed by any,

44 having come near behind, touched the fringe of his garment, and presently the issue of her blood stood.

45 And Jesus said, `Who `is' it that touched me?' and all denying, Peter and those with him said, `Master, the multitudes press thee, and throng `thee', and thou dost say, Who `is' it that touched me!'

46 And Jesus said, `Some one did touch me, for I knew power having gone forth from me.'

47 And the woman, having seen that she was not hid, trembling, came, and having fallen before him, for what cause she touched him declared to him before all the people, and how she was healed presently;

48 and he said to her, `Take courage, daughter, thy faith hath saved thee, be going on to peace.'

49 While he is yet speaking, there doth come a certain one from the chief of the synagogue's `house', saying to him -- `Thy daughter hath died, harass not the Teacher;'

50 and Jesus having heard, answered him, saying, `Be not afraid, only believe, and she shall be saved.'

51 And having come to the house, he suffered no one to go in, except Peter, and James, and John, and the father of the child, and the mother;

52 and they were all weeping, and beating themselves for her, and he said, `Weep not, she did not die, but doth sleep;

53 and they were deriding him, knowing that she did die;

54 and he having put all forth without, and having taken hold of her hand, called, saying, `Child, arise;'

55 and her spirit came back, and she arose presently, and he directed that there be given to her to eat;

56 and her parents were amazed, but he charged them to say to no one what was come to pass.


Luke 8:1-56 Darby English Bible (DARBY)

1 And it came to pass afterwards that *he* went through [the country] city by city, and village by village, preaching and announcing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; and the twelve [were] with him,

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

3 and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.

4 And a great crowd coming together, and those who were coming to him out of each city, he spoke by parable:

5 The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell along the way, and it was trodden under foot, and the birds of the heaven devoured it up;

6 and other fell upon the rock, and having sprung up, it was dried up because it had not moisture;

7 and other fell in the midst of the thorns, and the thorns having sprung up with [it] choked it;

8 and other fell into the good ground, and having sprung up bore fruit a hundredfold. As he said these things he cried, He that has ears to hear, let him hear.

9 And his disciples asked him [saying], What may this parable be?

10 And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.

11 But the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

12 But those by the wayside are those who hear; then comes the devil and takes away the word from their heart that they may not believe and be saved.

13 But those upon the rock, those who when they hear receive the word with joy; and these have no root, who believe for a time, and in time of trial fall away.

14 But that that fell where the thorns were, these are they who having heard go away and are choked under cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

15 But that in the good ground, these are they who in an honest and good heart, having heard the word keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 And no one having lighted a lamp covers it with a vessel or puts it under a couch, but sets it on a lamp-stand, that they who enter in may see the light.

17 For there is nothing hid which shall not become manifest, nor secret which shall not be known and come to light.

18 Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given, and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him.

19 And his mother and his brethren came to him, and could not get to him because of the crowd.

20 And it was told him [saying], Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, wishing to see thee.

21 But he answering said to them, My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do [it].

22 And it came to pass on one of the days, that *he* entered into a ship, himself and his disciples; and he said to them, Let us pass over to the other side of the lake; and they set off from shore.

23 And as they sailed, he fell asleep; and a sudden squall of wind came down on the lake, and they were filled [with water], and were in danger;

24 and coming to [him] they woke him up, saying, Master, master, we perish. But he, rising up, rebuked the wind and the raging of the water; and they ceased, and there was a calm.

25 And he said to them, Where is your faith? And, being afraid, they were astonished, saying to one another, Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?

26 And they arrived in the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.

27 And as he got out [of the ship] on the land, a certain man out of the city met him, who had demons a long time, and put on no clothes, and did not abide in a house, but in the tombs.

28 But seeing Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus Son of the Most High God? I beseech thee torment me not.

29 For he had commanded the unclean spirit to go out from the man. For very often it had seized him; and he had been bound, kept with chains and fetters; and breaking the bonds he was driven by the demon into the deserts.

30 And Jesus asked him saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: for many demons had entered into him.

31 And they besought him that he would not command them to go away into the bottomless pit.

32 And there was there a herd of many swine feeding on the mountain, and they besought him that he would suffer them to enter into those; and he suffered them.

33 And the demons, going out from the man, entered into the swine, and the herd rushed down the precipice into the lake, and were choked.

34 But they that fed [them], seeing what had happened, fled, and told [it] to the city and to the country.

35 And they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting, clothed and sensible, at the feet of Jesus. And they were afraid.

36 And they also who had seen it told them how the possessed man had been healed.

37 And all the multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were possessed with great fear; and *he*, entering into the ship, returned.

38 But the man out of whom the demons had gone besought him that he might be with him. But he sent him away, saying,

39 Return to thine house and relate how great things God has done for thee. And he went away through the whole city, publishing how great things Jesus had done for him.

40 And it came to pass when Jesus returned, the crowd received him gladly, for they were all expecting him.

41 And behold, a man came, whose name was Jairus, and he was [a] ruler of the synagogue, and falling at the feet of Jesus besought him to come to his house,

42 because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. And as he went the crowds thronged him.

43 And a woman who had a flux of blood since twelve years, who, having spent all her living on physicians, could not be cured by any one,

44 coming up behind, touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her flux of blood stopped.

45 And Jesus said, Who has touched me? But all denying, Peter and those with him said, Master, the crowds close thee in and press upon thee, and sayest thou, Who has touched me?

46 And Jesus said, Some one has touched me, for *I* have known that power has gone out from me.

47 And the woman, seeing that she was not hid, came trembling, and falling down before him declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was immediately healed.

48 And he said to her, [Be of good courage,] daughter; thy faith has healed thee; go in peace.

49 While he was yet speaking, comes some one from the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher.

50 But Jesus, hearing it, answered him saying, Fear not: only believe, and she shall be made well.

51 And when he came to the house he suffered no one to go in but Peter and John and James and the father of the child and the mother.

52 And all were weeping and lamenting her. But he said, Do not weep, for she has not died, but sleeps.

53 And they derided him, knowing that she had died.

54 But *he*, having turned them all out and taking hold of her hand, cried saying, Child, arise.

55 And her spirit returned, and immediately she rose up; and he commanded [something] to eat to be given to her.

56 And her parents were amazed; but he enjoined them to tell no one what had happened.


Luke 8:1-56 World English Bible (WEB)

1 It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve,

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

3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others; who ministered to them{TR reads "him" instead of "them"} from their possessions.

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

5 "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.

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

7 Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.

8 Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

9 Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

10 He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables; that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

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

12 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.

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

14 That which 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 bring no fruit to maturity.

15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.

16 "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.

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

18 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."

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

20 It was told him by some saying, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you."

21 But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it."

22 Now it happened on one of those days, that 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.

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

24 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, and they ceased, and it was calm.

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

26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27 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.

28 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!"

29 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 bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him.

31 They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss.

32 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. He allowed them.

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

34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

35 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.

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

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

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

39 "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.

40 It happened, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.

41 Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house,

42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.

43 A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any,

44 came behind him, and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped.

45 Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"

46 But Jesus said, "Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me."

47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48 He said to her, "Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

49 While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."

50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."

51 When he came to the house, he didn't allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother.

52 All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping."

53 They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.

54 But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, "Child, arise!"

55 Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat.

56 Her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had been done.


Luke 8:1-56 Bible in Basic English (BBE)

1 And it came about, after a short time, that he went through town and country giving the good news of the kingdom of God, and with him were the twelve,

2 And certain women who had been made free from evil spirits and diseases, Mary named Magdalene, from whom seven evil spirits had gone out,

3 And Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's chief house-servant, and Susanna and a number of others, who gave him of their wealth for his needs.

4 And when a great number of people came together, and men from every town went out to him, he gave them teaching in the form of a story:

5 A man went out to put in seed, and while he was doing it, some was dropped by the wayside and it was crushed under foot, and was taken by the birds of heaven.

6 And some went on the rock, and when it came up it became dry and dead because it had no water.

7 And some went among thorns, and the thorns came up with it and it had no room for growth.

8 And some falling on good earth, came up and gave fruit a hundred times as much. And with these words he said in a loud voice, He who has ears, let him give ear.

9 And his disciples put questions to him about the point of the story.

10 And he said, To you is given knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others, they are given in stories, so that seeing, they may not see, and though they give hearing, the sense will not be clear to them.

11 Now this is the point of the story: The seed is the word of God.

12 Those by the side of the road are those who have given hearing; then the Evil One comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not have faith and get salvation.

13 And those on the rock are those who with joy give hearing to the word; but having no root, they have faith for a time, and when the test comes they give up.

14 And those which went among thorns are those who have given hearing, and go on their way, but they are overcome by cares and wealth and the pleasures of life, and they give no fruit.

15 And those in the good earth are those who, having given ear to the word, keep it with a good and true heart, and in quiet strength give fruit.

16 No man, when the light is lighted, puts a cover over it, or puts it under a bed, but he puts it on its table, so that those who come in may see the light.

17 For nothing is put out of view which will not be made clear, and nothing is secret of which the knowledge will not come to light.

18 So take care how you give hearing, for to him who has will be given, and from him who has not will be taken even what he seems to have.

19 And his mother and his brothers came to him, and they were not able to get near him because of the great number of people.

20 And someone said to him, Your mother and your brothers are outside desiring to see you.

21 But he said to them in answer, My mother and my brothers are those who have knowledge of the word of God and do it.

22 Now it came about on one of those days that he got into a boat with his disciples; and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the water: and they put out the boat.

23 But while they were sailing he went to sleep: and a storm of wind came down on the sea, and the boat became full of water and they were in danger.

24 Then they came to him and, awaking him out of his sleep, said, Master, Master, destruction is near. And he, when he was awake, gave orders to the wind and the rolling waves, and the storm came to an end, and all was calm.

25 And he said to them, Where is your faith? And fear and wonder overcame them, and they said to one another, Who then is this, who gives orders even to the winds and the water and they do what he says?

26 And they came to the country of the Gerasenes, which is opposite Galilee.

27 And when he had come to the land, there came to him a certain man from the town who had evil spirits; and for a long time he had had no clothing on, and was not living in a house but in the place of the dead.

28 And when he saw Jesus, he gave a loud cry and went down on the earth before him and in a loud voice said, What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Do not be cruel to me.

29 For he gave an order to the evil spirit to come out of the man. For frequently it would take a grip of him: and he was kept under control, and prisoned with chains; but parting the chains in two, he would be sent by the driving of the evil spirit into waste places.

30 And Jesus said to him, What is your name? And he said, Legion; for a number of spirits had gone into him.

31 And they made a request to him that he would not give them an order to go away into the deep.

32 Now there was a great herd of pigs in that place, getting food on the mountain: and the evil spirits made a request to him that he would let them go into the pigs, and he let them.

33 And the evil spirits came out of the man and went into the pigs: and the herd went rushing down a sharp slope into the water and came to destruction.

34 And when the men who took care of them saw what had come about, they went quickly and gave news of it in the town and the country.

35 And they went out to see what had taken place, and they came to Jesus and saw the man out of whom the evil spirits had gone, seated, clothed and with full use of his senses, at the feet of Jesus; and fear came on them.

36 And those who had seen it gave them an account of how the man who had the evil spirits was made well.

37 And all the people of the country of the Gerasenes made a request to him to go away from them; for they were in great fear: and he got into a boat and went back.

38 But the man from whom the evil spirits had gone out had a great desire to be with him, but he sent him away, saying,

39 Go back to your house and let them have news of all the great things which God has done for you. And he went away, giving word through all the town of the great things which Jesus had done for him.

40 And when Jesus went back, the people were glad to see him, for they were all waiting for him.

41 Then there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler in the Synagogue: and he went down at the feet of Jesus, desiring him to come to his house;

42 For he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was near to death. But while he was on his way, the people were pushing to be near him.

43 And a woman, who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, and had given all her money to medical men, and not one of them was able to make her well,

44 Came after him and put her hand on the edge of his robe, and straight away the flowing of her blood was stopped.

45 And Jesus said, Who was touching me? And when they all said, It is not I, Peter and those who were with him said, Master, the people are pushing round you on every side.

46 But Jesus said, Someone was touching me, for I had the feeling that power had gone out from me.

47 And when the woman saw that she was not able to keep it secret, she came, shaking with fear, and falling down before him she made clear before all the people the reason for her touching him, and how she was made well straight away.

48 And he said to her, Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.

49 While he was still talking, someone came from the house of the ruler of the Synagogue, saying, Your daughter is dead; do not go on troubling the Master.

50 But Jesus at these words said to him, Have no fear, only have faith, and she will be made well.

51 And when he came to the house he did not let any man go in with him, but only Peter and John and James, and the father of the girl and her mother.

52 And all the people were weeping and crying for her; but he said, Do not be sad, for she is not dead, but sleeping.

53 And they were laughing at him, being certain that she was dead.

54 But he, taking her hand, said to her, My child, get up.

55 And her spirit came back to her and she got up straight away: and he gave orders that food was to be given to her.

56 And her father and mother were full of wonder, but he gave orders to them to say nothing about it to anyone.

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Luke 8

Commentary on Luke 8 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 8

Most of this chapter is a repetition of divers passages of Christ's preaching and miracles which we had before in Matthew and Mark; they are all of such weight, that they are worth repeating, and therefore they are repeated, that out of the mouth not only of two, but of three, witnesses every word may be established. Here is,

  • I. A general account of Christ's preaching, and how he had subsistence for himself and his numerous family by the charitable contributions of good people (v. 1-3).
  • II. The parable of the sower, and the four sorts of ground, with the exposition of it, and some inferences from it (v. 4-18).
  • III. The preference which Christ gave to his obedient disciples before his nearest relations according to the flesh (v. 19-21).
  • IV. His stilling a storm at sea, with a word's speaking (v. 22-25).
  • V. His casting a legion of devils out of a man that was possessed by them (v. 26-40).
  • VI. His healing the woman that had the bloody issue, and raising Jairus's daughter to life (v. 41-56).

Luk 8:1-3

We are here told,

  • I. What Christ made the constant business of his life-it was preaching; in that work he was indefatigable, and went about doing good (v. 1), afterward-en toµ kathexeµs-ordine, in the proper time or method. Christ took his work before him and went about it regularly. He observed a series or order of business, so that the end of one good work was the beginning of another. Now observe here,
    • 1. Where he preached: He went about-dioµdeue-peragrabat. He was an itinerant preacher, did not confine himself to one place, but diffused the beams of his light. Circumibat-He went his circuit, as a judge, having found his preaching perhaps most acceptable where it was new. He went about through every city, that none might plead ignorance. Hereby he set an example to his disciples; they must traverse the nations of the earth, as he did the cities of Israel. Nor did he confine himself to the cities, but went into the villages, among the plain country-people, to preach to the inhabitants of the villages, Jdg. 5:11.
    • 2. What he preached: He showed the glad tidings of the kingdom of God, that it was now to be set up among them. Tidings of the kingdom of God are glad tidings, and those Jesus Christ came to bring; to tell the children of men that God was willing to take all those under his protection that were willing to return to their allegiance. It was glad tidings to the world that there was hope of its being reformed and reconciled.
    • 3. Who were his attendants: The twelve were with him, not to preach if he were present, but to learn from him what and how to preach hereafter, and, if occasion were, to be sent to places where he could not go. Happy were these his servants that heard his wisdom.
  • II. Whence he had the necessary supports of life: He lived upon the kindness of his friends. There were certain women, who frequently attended his ministry, that ministered to him of their substance, v. 2, 3. Some of them are named; but there were many others, who were zealously affected to the doctrine of Christ, and thought themselves bound in justice to encourage it, having themselves found benefit, and in charity, hoping that many others might find benefit by it too.
    • 1. They were such, for the most part, as had been Christ's patients, and were the monuments of his power and mercy; they had been healed by him of evil spirits and infirmities. Some of them had been troubled in mind, had been melancholy, others of them afflicted in body, and he had been to them a powerful healer. He is the physician both of body and soul, and those who have been healed by him ought to study what they shall render to him. We are bound in interest to attend him, that we may be ready to apply ourselves to him for help in case of a relapse; and we are bound in gratitude to serve him and his gospel, who hath saved us, and saved us by it.
    • 2. One of them was Mary Magdalene, out of whom had been cast seven devils; a certain number for an uncertain. Some think that she was one that had been very wicked, and then we may suppose her to be the woman that was a sinner mentioned just before, ch. 7:37. Dr. Lightfoot, finding in some of the Talmudists' writings that Mary Magdalene signified Mary the plaiter of hair, thinks it applicable to her, she having been noted, in the days of her iniquity and infamy, for that plaiting of hair which is opposed to modest apparel, 1 Tim. 2:9. But, though she had been an immodest woman, upon her repentance and reformation she found mercy, and became a zealous disciple of Christ. Note, The greatest of sinners must not despair of pardon; and the worse any have been before their conversion the more they should study to do for Christ after. Or, rather, she was one that had been very melancholy, and then, probably, it was Mary the sister of Lazarus, who was a woman of a sorrowful spirit, who might have been originally of Magdala, but removed to Bethany. This Mary Magdalene was attending on Christ's cross and his sepulchre, and, if she was not Mary the sister of Lazarus, either that particular friend and favourite of Christ's did not attend then, or the evangelists did not take notice of her, neither of which we can suppose; thus Dr. Lightfoot argues. Yet there is this to be objected against it that Mary Magdalene is reckoned among the women that followed Jesus from Galilee (Mt. 27:55, 56); whereas Mary the sister of Lazarus had her residence in Bethany.
    • 3. Another of them was Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod's steward. She had been his wife (so some), but was now a widow, and left in good circumstances. If she was now his wife, we have reason to think that her husband, though preferred in Herod's court, had received the gospel, and was very willing that his wife should be both a hearer of Christ and a contributor to him.
    • 4. There were many of them that ministered to Christ of their substance. It was an instance of the meanness of that condition to which our Saviour humbled himself that he needed it, and of his great humility and condescension that he accepted it. Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, and lived upon alms. Let none say that they scorn to be beholden to the charity of their neighbours, when Providence has brought them into straits; but let them ask and be thankful for it as a favour. Christ would rather be beholden to his known friends for a maintenance for himself and his disciples than be burdensome to strangers in the cities and villages whither he came to preach. Note, It is the duty of those who are taught in the word to communicate to them who teach them in all good things; and those who are herein liberal and cheerful honour the Lord with their substance, and bring a blessing upon it.

Luk 8:4-21

The former paragraph began with an account of Christ's industry in preaching (v. 1); this begins with an account of the people's industry in hearing, v. 4. He went into every city, to preach; so they, one would think, should have contented themselves to hear him when he came to their own city (we know those that would); but there were those here that came to him out of every city, would not stay till he came to them, nor think that they had enough when he left them, but met him when he was coming towards them, and followed him when he was going from them. Nor did he excuse himself from going to the cities with this, that there were some from the cities that came to him; for, though there were, yet the most had not zeal enough to bring them to him, and therefore such is his wonderful condescension that he will go to them; for he is found of those that sought him not, Isa. 65:1.
Here was, it seems, a vast concourse, much people were gathered together, abundance of fish to cast their net among; and he was as ready and willing to teach as they were to be taught. Now in these verses we have,

  • I. Necessary and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower and the explanation and application of it, all which we had twice before more largely. When Christ had put forth this parable,
    • 1. The disciples were inquisitive concerning the meaning of it, v. 9. They asked him, What might this parable be? Note, We should covet earnestly to know the true intent, and full extent, of the word we hear, that we may be neither mistaken nor defective in our knowledge.
    • 2. Christ made them sensible of what great advantage it was to them that they had opportunity of acquainting themselves with the mystery and meaning of his word, which others had not: Unto you it is given, v. 10. Note, Those who would receive instruction from Christ must know and consider what a privilege it is to be instructed by him, what a distinguishing privilege to be led into the light, such a light, when others are left in darkness, such a darkness. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are enlightened and governed, and into the mould of which we are delivered.
      Now from the parable itself, and the explication of it, observe,
      • (1.) The heart of man is as soil to the seed of God's word; it is capable of receiving it, and bringing forth the fruits of it; but, unless that seed be sown in it, it will bring forth nothing valuable. Or care therefore must be to bring the seed and the soil together. To what purpose have we the seed in the scripture, if it be not sown? And to what purpose have we the soil in our own hearts, if it be not sown with that seed?
      • (2.) The success of the seeding is very much according to the nature and temper of the soil, and as that is, or is not, disposed to receive the seed. The word of God is to us, as we are, a savour of life unto life, or of death unto death.
      • (3.) The devil is a subtle and spiteful enemy, that makes it his business to hinder our profiting by the word of God. He takes the word out of the hearts of careless hearers, lest they should believe and be saved, v. 12. This is added here to teach us,
        • [1.] That we cannot be saved unless we believe. The word of the gospel will not be a saving word to us, unless it be mixed with faith.
        • [2.] That therefore the devil does all he can to keep us from believing, to make us not believe the word when we read and hear it; or, if we heed it for the present, to make us forget it again, and let it slip (Heb. 2:1); or, if we remember it, to create prejudices in our minds against it, or divert our minds from it to something else; and all is lest we should believe and be saved, lest we should believe and rejoice, while he believes and trembles.
      • (4.) Where the word of God is heard carelessly there is commonly a contempt put upon it too. It is added here in the parable that the seed which fell by the way-side was trodden down, v. 5. They that wilfully shut their ears against the word do in effect trample it under their feet; they despise the commandment of the Lord.
      • (5.) Those on whom the word makes some impressions, but they are not deep and durable ones, will show their hypocrisy in a time of trial; as the seed sown upon the rock, where it gains no root, v. 13. These for awhile believe a little while; their profession promises something, but in time of temptation they fall away from their good beginnings. Whether the temptation arises from the smiles or the frowns, of the world, they are easily overcome by it.
      • (6.) The pleasures of this life are as dangerous and mischievous thorns to choke the good seed of the word as any other. This is added here (v. 14), which was not in the other evangelists. Those that are not entangled in the cares of this life, nor inveigled with the deceitfulness of riches, but boast that they are dead to them, may yet be kept from heaven by an affected indolence, and the love of ease and pleasure. The delights of sense may ruin the soul, even lawful delights, indulged, and too much delighted in.
      • (7.) It is not enough that the fruit be brought forth, but it must be brought to perfection, it must be fully ripened. If it be not, it is as if there was no fruit at all brought forth; for that which in Matthew and Mark is said to be unfruitful is the same that here is said to bring forth none to perfection. For factum non dicitur quod non perseverat-perseverance is necessary to the perfection of a work.
      • (8.) The good ground, which brings forth good fruit, is an honest and good heart, well disposed to receive instruction and commandment (v. 15); a heart free from sinful pollutions, and firmly fixed for God and duty, an upright heart, a tender heart, and a heart that trembles at the word, is an honest and good heart, which, having heard the word, understands it (so it is in Matthew), receives it (so it is in Mark), and keeps it (so it is here), as the soil not only receives, but keeps, the seed; and the stomach not only receives, but keeps, the food or physic.
      • (9.) Where the word is well kept there is fruit brought forth with patience. This also is added here. There must be both bearing patience and waiting patience; patience to suffer the tribulation and persecution which may arise because of the word; patience to continue to the end in well-doing.
      • (10.) In consideration of all this, we ought to take heed how we hear (v. 18); take heed of those things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear, watch over our hearts in hearing, and take heed lest they betray us; take heed lest we hear carelessly and slightly, lest, upon any account, we entertain prejudice against the word we hear; and take heed to the frame of our spirits after we have heard the word, lest we lose what we have gained.
  • II. Needful instructions given to those that are appointed to preach the word, and to those also that have heard it.
    • 1. Those that have received the gift must minister the same. Ministers that have the dispensing of the gospel committed to them, people that have profited by the word and are thereby qualified to profit others, must look upon themselves as lighted candles: ministers must in solemn authoritative preaching, and people in brotherly familiar discourse, diffuse their light, for a candle must not be covered with a vessel nor put under a bed, v. 16. Ministers and Christians are to be lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. Their light must shine before men; they must not only be good, but do good.
    • 2. We must expect that what is now done in secret, and from unseen springs, will shortly be manifested and made known, v. 17. What is committed to you in secret should be made manifest by you; for your Master did not give you talents to be buried, but to be traded with. Let that which is now hid be made known; for, if it be not manifested by you, it will be manifested against you, will be produced in evidence of your treachery.
    • 3. The gifts we have will either be continued to us, or taken from us, according as we do, or do not, make use of them for the glory of God and the edification of our brethren: Whosoever hath, to him shall be given, v. 18. He that hath gifts, and does good with them, shall have more; he that buries his talent shall lose it. From him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath, so it is in Mark; that which he seemeth to have, so it is in Luke. Note, The grace that is lost was but seeming grace, was never true. Men do but seem to have what they do not use, and shows of religion will be lost and forfeited. They went out from us, because they were not of us, 1 Jn. 2:19. Let us see to it that we have grace in sincerity, the root of the matter found in us; that is a good part which shall never be taken away from those that have it.
  • III. Great encouragement given to those that prove themselves faithful hearers of the word, by being doers of the work, in a particular instance of Christ's respect to his disciples, in preferring them even before his nearest relations (v. 19-21), which passage of story we had twice before. Observe,
    • 1. What crowding there was after Christ. There was no coming near for the throng of people that attended him, who, though they were crowded very so much, would not be crowded out from his congregation.
    • 2. Some of his nearest kindred were least solicitous to hear him preach. Instead of getting within, as they might easily have done if they had come in time, desiring to hear him, they stood without, desiring to see him; and, probably, out of a foolish fear, lest he should spend himself with too much speaking, designing nothing but to interrupt him, and oblige him to break off.
    • 3. Jesus Christ would rather be busy at his work than conversing with his friends. He would not leave his preaching, to speak with his mother and his brethren, for it was his meat and drink to be so employed.
    • 4. Christ is pleased to own those as his nearest and dearest relations that hear the word of God and do it; they are to him more than his mother and brethren.

Luk 8:22-39

We have here two illustrious proofs of the power of our Lord Jesus which we had before-his power over the winds, and his power over the devils. See Mk. 4 and 5.

  • I. His power over the winds, those powers of the air that are so much a terror to men, especially upon sea, and occasion the death of such multitudes. Observe,
    • 1. Christ ordered his disciples to put to sea, that he might show his glory upon the water, in stilling the waves, and might do an act of kindness to a poor possessed man on the other side the water: He went into a ship with his disciples, v. 22. They that observe Christ's orders may assure themselves of his presence. If Christ sends his disciples, he goes with them. And those may safely and boldly venture any where that have Christ accompanying them. He said, Let us go over unto the other side; for he had a piece of good work to do there. He might have gone by land, a little way about; but he chose to go by water, that he might show his wonders in the deep.
    • 2. Those that put to sea in a calm, yea, and at Christ's word, must yet prepare for a storm, and for the utmost peril in that storm; There came down a storm of wind on the lake (v. 23), as if it were there, and no where else; and presently their ship was so tossed that it was filled with water, and they were in jeopardy of their lives. Perhaps the devil, who is the prince of the power of the air, and who raiseth winds by the permission of God, had some suspicion, from some words which Christ might let fall, that he was coming over the lake now on purpose to cast that legion of devils out of the poor man on the other side, and therefore poured this storm upon the ship he was in, designing, if possible, to have sunk him and prevented that victory.
    • 3. Christ was asleep in the storm, v. 23. Some bodily refreshment he must have, and he chose to take it when it would be least a hindrance to him in his work. The disciples of Christ may really have his gracious presence with them at sea, and in a storm, and yet he may seem as if he were asleep; he may not immediately appear for their relief, no, not when things seem to be brought even to the last extremity. Thus he will try their faith and patience, and quicken them by prayer to awake, and make their deliverance the more welcome when it comes at last.
    • 4. A complaint to Christ of our danger, and the distress his church is in, is enough to engage him to awake, and appear for us, v. 24. They cried, Master, master, we perish! The way to have our fears silenced is to bring them to Christ, and lay them before him. Those that in sincerity call Christ Master, and with faith and fervency call upon him as their Master, may be sure that he will not let them perish. There is no relief for poor souls that are under a sense of guilt, and a fear of wrath, like this, to go to Christ, and call him Master, and say, "I am undone, if thou do not help me.'
    • 5. Christ's business is to lay storms, as it is Satan's business to raise them. He can do it; he has done it; he delights to do it: for he came to proclaim peace on earth. He rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and immediately they ceased (v. 24); not, as at other times, by degrees, but all of a sudden, there was a great calm. Thus Christ showed that, though the devil pretends to be the prince of the power of the air, yet even there he has him in a chain.
    • 6. When our dangers are over, it becomes us to take to ourselves the shame of our own fears and to give to Christ the glory of his power. When Christ had turned the storm into a calm, then were they glad because they were quiet, Ps. 107:30. And then,
      • (1.) Christ gives them a rebuke for their inordinate fear: Where is your faith? v. 25. Note, Many that have true faith have it to seek when they have occasion to use it. They tremble, and are discouraged, if second causes frown upon them. A little thing disheartens them; and where is their faith then?
      • (2.) They give him the glory of his power: They, being afraid, wondered. Those that had feared the storm, now that the danger was over with good reason feared him that had stilled it, and said one to another, What manner of man is this! They might as well have said, Who is a God like unto thee? For it is God's prerogative to still the noise of the seas, the noise of their waves, Ps. 65:7.
  • II. His power over the devil, the prince of the power of the air. In the next passage of story he comes into a closer grapple with him than he did when he commanded the winds. Presently after the winds were stilled they were brought to their desired haven, and arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, and there went ashore (v. 26, 27); and he soon met with that which was his business over, and which he thought it worth his while to go through a storm to accomplish.
    We may learn a great deal out of this story concerning this world of infernal, malignant spirits, which, though not working now ordinarily in the same way as here, yet we are all concerned at all times to stand upon our guard against.
    • 1. These malignant spirits are very numerous. They that had taken possession of this one man called themselves Legion (v. 30), because many devils were entered into him: he had had devils a long time, v. 27. But perhaps those that had been long in possession of him, upon some foresight of our Saviour's coming to make an attack upon them, and finding they could not prevent it by the storm they had raised, sent for recruits, intending this to be a decisive battle, and hoping now to be too hard for him that had cast out so many unclean spirits, and to give him a defeat. They either were, or at least would be thought to be, a legion, formidable as an army with banners; and now, at least, to be, what the twentieth legion of the Roman army, which was long quartered at Chester, was styled, legio victrix-a victorious legion.
    • 2. They have an inveterate enmity to man, and all his conveniences and comforts. This man in whom the devils had got possession, and kept it long, being under their influence, wore no clothes, neither abode in any house (v. 27), though clothing and a habitation are two of the necessary supports of this life. Nay, and because man has a natural dread of the habitations of the dead, they forced this man to abide in the tombs, to make him so much the more a terror to himself and to all about him, so that his soul had as much cause as ever any man's had to be weary of his life, and to choose strangling and death rather.
    • 3. They are very strong, fierce, and unruly, and hate and scorn to be restrained: He was kept bound with chains and in fetters, that he might not be mischievous either to others or to himself, but he broke the bands, v. 29. Note, Those that are ungovernable by any other thereby show that they are under Satan's government; and this is the language of those that are so, even concerning God and Christ, their best friends, that would not either bind them from or bind them to any thing but for their own good: Let us break their bands in sunder. He was driven of the devil. Those that are under Christ's government are sweetly led with the cords of a man and the bands of love; those that are under the devil's government are furiously driven.
    • 4. They are much enraged against our Lord Jesus, and have a great dread and horror of him: When the man whom they had possession of, and who spoke as they would have him, saw Jesus, he roared out as one in an agony, and fell down before him, to deprecate his wrath, and owned him to be the Son of God most high, that was infinitely above him and too hard for him; but protested against having any league or confederacy with him (which might sufficiently have silenced the blasphemous cavils of the scribes and Pharisees): What have I to do with thee? The devils have neither inclination to do service to Christ nor expectation to receive benefit by him: What have we to do with thee? But they dreaded his power and wrath: I beseech thee, torment me not. They do not say, I beseech thee, save me, but only, Torment me not. See whose language they speak that have only a dread of hell as a place of torment, but no desire of heaven as a place of holiness and love.
    • 5. They are perfectly at the command, and under the power, of our Lord Jesus; and they knew it, for they besought him that he would not command them to go eis ton abysson-into the deep, the place of their torment, which they acknowledge he could easily and justly do. O what a comfort is this to the Lord's people, that all the powers of darkness are under the check and control of the Lord Jesus! He has them all in a chain. He can send them to their own place, when he pleaseth.
    • 6. They delight in doing mischief. When they found there was no remedy, but they must quit their hold of this poor man, they begged they might have leave to take possession of a herd of swine, v. 32. When the devil at first brought man into a miserable state he brought a curse likewise upon the whole creation, and that became subject to enmity. And here, as an instance of that extensive enmity of his, when he could not destroy the man, he would destroy the swine. If he could not hurt them in their bodies, he would hurt them in their goods, which sometimes prove a great temptation to men to draw them from Christ, as here. Christ suffered them to enter into the swine, to convince the country what mischief the devil could do in it, if he should suffer him. No sooner had the devils leave than they entered into the swine; and no sooner had they entered into them than the herd ran violently down a steep place into the lake, and were drowned. For it is a miracle of mercy if those whom Satan possesses are not brought to destruction and perdition. This, and other instances, show that that roaring lion and red dragon seeks what and whom he may devour.
    • 7. When the devil's power is broken in any soul that soul recovers itself, and returns into a right frame, which supposes that those whom Satan gets possession of are put out of the possession of themselves: The man out of whom the devils were departed sat at the feet of Jesus, v. 35. While he was under the devil's power he was ready to fly in the face of Jesus; but now he sits at his feet, which is a sign that he is come to his right mind. If God has possession of us, he preserves to us the government and enjoyment of ourselves; but, if Satan has possession of us, he robs us of both. Let his power therefore in our souls be overturned, and let him come whose right our hearts are, and let us give them to him; for we are never more our own than when we are his.
      Let us now see what was the effect of this miracle of casting the legion of devils out of this man.
      • (1.) What effect it had upon the people of that country who had lost their swine by it: The swineherds went and told it both in city and country (v. 34), perhaps with a design to incense people against Christ. They told by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed (v. 36), that it was by sending the devils into the swine, which was capable of an invidious representation, as if Christ could not have delivered the man out of their hands, but by delivering the swine into them. The people came out, to see what was done, and to enquire into it; and they were afraid (v. 35); they were taken with great fear (v. 37); they were surprised and amazed at it, and knew not what to say to it. They thought more of the destruction of the swine than of the deliverance of their poor afflicted neighbour, and of the country from the terror of his frenzy, which was become a public nuisance; and therefore the whole multitude besought Christ to depart from them for fear he should bring some other judgment upon them; whereas indeed none need to be afraid of Christ that are willing to forsake their sins and give up themselves to him. But Christ took them at their word: He went up into the ship, and returned back again. Those lose their Saviour, and their hopes in him, that love their swine better.
      • (2.) What effect it had upon the poor man who had recovered himself by it. He desired Christ's company as much as others dreaded it: he besought Christ that he might be with him as others were that had been healed by him of evil spirits and infirmities (v. 2), that Christ might be to him a protector and teacher, and that he might be to Christ for a name and a praise. He was loth to stay among those rude and brutish Gadarenes that desired Christ to depart from them. O gather not my soul with these sinners! But Christ would not take him along with him, but sent him home, to publish among those that knew him the great things God had done for him, that so he might be a blessing to his country, as he had been a burden to it. We must sometimes deny ourselves the satisfaction even of spiritual benefits and comforts, to gain an opportunity of being serviceable to the souls of others. Perhaps Christ knew that, when the resentment of the loss of their swine was a little over, they would be better disposed to consider the miracle, and therefore left the man among them to be a standing monument, and a monitor to them of it.

Luk 8:40-56

Christ was driven away by the Gadarenes; they were weary of him, and willing to be rid of him. But when he had crossed the water, and returned to the Galileans, they gladly received him, wished and waited for his return, and welcomed him with all their hearts when he did return, v. 40. If some will not accept the favours Christ offers them, others will. If the Gadarenes be not gathered, yet there are many among whom Christ shall be glorious. When Christ had done his work on the other side of the water he returned, and found work to do in the place whence he came, fresh work. They that will lay out themselves to do good shall never want occasion for it. The needy you have always with you.

We have here two miracles interwoven, as they were in Matthew and Mark-the raising of Jairus's daughter to life, and the cure of the woman that had an issue of blood, as he was going in a crowd to Jairus's house. We have here,

  • I. A public address made to Christ by a ruler of the synagogue, whose name was Jairus, on the behalf of a little daughter of his, that was very ill, and, in the apprehension of all about here, lay a dying. This address was very humble and reverent. Jairus, though a ruler, fell down at Jesus's feet, as owning him to be a ruler above him. It was very importunate. He besought him that he would come into his house; not having the faith, at least not having the thought, of the centurion, who desired Christ only to speak the healing word at a distance. But Christ complied with his request; he went along with him. Strong faith shall be applauded, and yet weak faith shall not be rejected. In the houses where sickness and death are, it is very desirable to have the presence of Christ. When Christ was going, the people thronged him, some out of curiosity to see him, others out of an affection to him. Let us not complain of a crowd, and a throng, and a hurry, as long as we are in the way of our duty, and doing good; but otherwise it is what every wise man will keep himself out of as much as he can.
  • II. Here is a secret application made to Christ by a woman ill of a bloody issue, which had been the consumption of her body and the consumption of her purse too; for she had spent all her living upon physicians, and was never the better, v. 43. The nature of her disease was such that she did not care to make a public complaint of it (it was agreeable to the modesty of her sex to be very shy of speaking of it), and therefore she took this opportunity of coming to Christ in a crowd; and the more people were present the more likely she thought it was that she should be concealed. Her faith was very strong; for she doubted not but that by the touch of the hem of his garment she should derive from him healing virtue sufficient for her relief, looking upon him to be such a full fountain of mercies that she should steal a cure and he not miss it. Thus many a poor soul is healed, and helped, and saved, by Christ, that is lost in a crowd, and that nobody takes notice of. The woman found an immediate change for the better in herself, and that her disease was cured, v. 44. As believers have comfortable communion with Christ, so they have comfortable communications from him incognito-secretly, meat to eat that the world knows not of, and joy that a stranger does not intermeddle with.
  • III. Here is a discovery of this secret cure, to the glory both of the physician and the patient.
    • 1. Christ takes notice that there is a cure wrought: Virtue is gone out of me, v. 46. Those that have been healed by virtue derived from Christ must own it, for he knows it. He speaks of it here, not in a way of complaint, as if he were hereby either weakened or wronged, but in a way of complacency. It was his delight that virtue was gone out of him to do any good, and he did not grudge it to the meanest; they were as welcome to it as to the light and heat of the sun. Nor had he the less virtue in him for the going out of the virtue from him for he is an overflowing fountain.
    • 2. The poor patient owns her case, and the benefit she had received: When she saw that she was not hid, she came, and fell down before him, v. 47. Note, The consideration of this, that we cannot be hid from Christ, should engage us to pour out our hearts before him, and to show before him all our sin and all our trouble. She came trembling, and yet her faith saved her, v. 48. Note, There may be trembling where yet there is saving faith. She declared before all the people for what cause she had touched him because she believed that a touch would cure her, and it did so. Christ's patients should communicate their experiences to one another.
    • 3. The great physician confirms her cure, and sends her away with the comfort of it: Be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole, v. 48. Jacob got the blessing from Isaac clandestinely, and by a wile; but, when the fraud was discovered, Isaac ratified it designedly. It was obtained surreptitiously and under-hand, but it was secured and seconded above-board. So was the cure here. He is blessed, and he shall be blessed; so here, She is healed, and she shall be healed.
  • IV. Here is an encouragement to Jairus not to distrust the power of Christ, though his daughter was now dead, and they that brought him the tidings advised him not to give the Master any further trouble about her: Fear not, saith Christ, only believe. Note, Our faith in Christ should be bold and daring, as well as our zeal for him. They that are willing to do any thing for him may depend upon his doing great things for them, above what they are able to ask or think. When the patient is dead there is no room for prayer, or the use of means; but here, though the child is dead, yet believe, and all shall be well. Post mortem medicus-to call in the physician after death, is an absurdity; but not post mortem Christus-to call in Christ after death.
  • V. The preparatives for the raising of her to life again.
    • 1. The choice Christ made of witnesses that should see the miracle wrought. A crowd followed him, but perhaps they were rude and noisy; however, it was not fit to let such a multitude come into a gentleman's house, especially now that the family was all in sorrow; therefore he sent them back, and not because he was afraid to let the miracle pass their scrutiny; for he raised Lazarus and the widow's son publicly. He took none with him but Peter, and James, and John, that triumvirate of his disciples that he was most intimate with, designing these three, with the parents, to be the only spectators of the miracle, they being a competent number to attest the truth of it.
    • 2. The check he gave to the mourners. They all wept, and bewailed her; for, it seems, she was a very agreeable hopeful child, and dear not only to the parents, but to all the neighbours. But Christ bid them not weep; for she is not dead, but sleepeth. He means, as to her peculiar case, that she was not dead for good and all, but that she should now shortly be raised to life, so that it would be to her friends as if she had been but a few hours asleep. But it is applicable to all that die in the Lord; therefore we should not sorrow for them as those that have no hope, because death is but a sleep to them, not only as it is a rest from all the toils of the days of time, but as there will be a resurrection, a waking and rising again to all the glories of the days of eternity. This was a comfortable word which Christ said to these mourners, yet they wickedly ridiculed it, and laughed him to scorn for it here was a pearl cast before swine. They were ignorant of the scriptures of the Old Testament who bantered it as an absurd thing to call death a sleep; yet this good came out of that evil that hereby the truth of the miracle was evinced; for they knew that she was dead, they were certain of it, and therefore nothing less than a divine power could restore her to life. We find not any answer that he made them; but he soon explained himself, I hope to their conviction, so that they would never again laugh at any word of his. But he put them all out, v. 54. They were unworthy to be the witnesses of this work of wonder; they who in the midst of their mourning were so merrily disposed as to laugh at him for what he said would, it may be, have found something to laugh at in what he did, and therefore are justly shut out.
  • VI. Her return to life, after a short visit to the congregation of the dead: He took her by the hand (as we do by one that we would awake out of sleep, and help up), and he called, saying, Maid, arise, v. 55. Thus the hand of Christ's grace goes along with the calls of his word, to make them effectual. Here that is expressed which was only implied in the other evangelists, that her spirit came again; her soul returned again to animate her body. This plainly proves that the soul exists and acts in a state of separation from the body, and therefore is immortal; that death does not extinguish this candle of the Lord, but takes it out of a dark lantern. It is not, as Grotius well observes, the krasis or temperament of the body, or anything that dies with it; but it is anthypostaton ti-something that subsists by itself, which, after death, is somewhere else than where the body is. Where the soul of this child was in this interval we are not told; it was in the hand of the Father of spirits, to whom all souls at death return. When her spirit came again she arose, and made it appear that she was alive by her motion, as she did also by her appetite; for Christ commanded to give her meat. As babes newly born, so those that are newly raised, desire spiritual food, that they may grow thereby. In the last verse, we need not wonder to find her parents astonished; but if that implies that they only were so, and not the other by-standers, who had laughed Christ to scorn, we may well wonder at their stupidity, which perhaps was the reason why Christ would not have it proclaimed, as well as to give an instance of his humility.