For he had healed so many that all the people who had ailments pressed upon him so as to touch him.

But over and over, he strictly forbade them to make him known.

Then he went up the hillside and called to him those whom he chose, and they came to him.

Twelve of them whom he also called "Apostles," he appointed to be with him, and also that he might send them out to preach,

There was Simon, whom he surnamed Peter,

and James(them he surnamed Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder),

Then he went into a house, but again such a multitude assembled that they could not get their food.

When his relatives heard of it, they came to take possession of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."

The Scribes also who had come down from Jerusalem, said, "He is Beelzebub," and, "He casts out demons by the power of the Prince of the demons."

So when he had called them to him he spoke to them in parables. "How," said he, "can Satan cast out Satan?

and if Satan has revolted against himself, and is divided, he cannot stand. Nay, he meets his end!

"Indeed, no one can enter the strong man's house and carry off his property without first binding the strong man; then he can plunder his house.

but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit is never forgiven. Nay, he is in the grasp of an eternal sin."

Because they kept saying, "He has an unclean spirit."

"Who are my mother and my brothers?" he replied.

Then, with a glance at those who were in the circle sitting around him, he added.

Afterwards Jesus began to teach by the seaside, and a vast multitude of people gathered about him, so that he went on board a boat on the sea, and sat there, while all the people stayed on shore, at the water's edge.

Then he began teaching them in parables many things. In his teaching he said to them.

and as he sowed, it happened that some seed fell on the road, and birds came and picked it up;

"Any one who has ears to hear," he added, "let him listen to this."

When he was alone his followers and the Twelve began asking about the parables.

He went on to say to them. "The secret truth concerning the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to those outside everything is told in parables,

"You do not understand this parable," said Jesus. "Then how will you understand the other parables?

He went on to say. "Is the lamp brought in to be put under the bushel or the bed? Is it not rather to be put on the lamp-stand?

And he said to them. "Take heed what you hear. With what measure you measure it will be measured to you, and more will be given to you.

For he who holds, to him will more be given, and he who holds not, from him will be taken even what he holds."

"It is with the kingdom of God," he continued, "as if a man should have sown seed in the earth;

night and day he sleeps and wakes while the seed is sprouting and growing tall, he knows not how.

"To what shall we compare the kingdom of God?" he said again. "in what parable shall we set it forth?

and to them it was his practice never to speak except in parables. But he used to explain everything in private to his disciples.

So, leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them just as he was in the boat; and the other boats were with him.

Now he himself was sleeping on the cushion in the stern, so they woke him up, saying, "Master, do you not care if we perish?"

And he awoke, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"

The wind fell, and there ensued a great calm. Then he said to them. "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"

and he had no sooner stepped out of the boat, than a man out of the tombs came to meet him, a man with an unclean spirit,

Not even with a chain could any man bind him, for he had been bound with fetters and chains again and again, and had snapped the chains, and broken the fetters; and there was no one strong enough to master him.

And always, night and day, he remained among the tombs and in the mountains, shrieking and gashing himself with stones.

As he caught sight of Jesus from afar, he ran and knelt before him,

and with a shriek he cried out in a loud voice. "Jesus, son of God most high, what business have you with me? I adjure you by God, torment me not!"

He continued asking him, "What is your mane?" "Legion is my name, for we are many."

Over and over he continued to beg Jesus not to send them away out of the country.

And he gave them leave. And out came the foul spirits and entered the swine; and the drove rushed down from the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand, and were choked in the sea.

When they got to Jesus they found the demoniac sitting there clothed and in his right mind??he man who had had the "Legion"??nd they were awestruck.

As he was getting into the boat the man who had been demon-possessed kept begging to go with him; but he said,

So he went and began to publish abroad in the District of the Ten Towns all that Jesus had done for him; and every one was astonished and all men marveled.

Then after Jesus had recrossed in a boat to the other side, a vast multitude came crowding around him; so he stayed on the seashore.

Then one of the wardens of the synagogue, named Jairus, came up, and as soon as he saw Jesus, fell at his feet, with many entreaties,

"My little daughter," he said, "is dying. I beseech you, come and lay your hands on her, that she may recover and live."

So he went with him, and a great crowd followed him and thronged about him.

But he kept looking about to see who had done it,

"Daughter," he said, "your faith has saved you. Go in peace, and be cured of your complaint."

While he was still speaking men came from the house of the warden of the synagogue to tell him, "Your daughter is dead, why trouble the Teacher any further?"

He would not permit any one to go with him, except Peter and James and John, the brother of James.

As they came to the house of the warden of the synagogue, he gazed upon a tumult, many weeping and wailing shrilly.

"Why all this tumult and loud weeping?" he asked.

"The child is not dead, but asleep." And they began to laugh him to scorn. Then he put them all outside, took the father and mother of the child and those he brought with him, and entered the room where the child was lying.

Then he took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," that is to say, "Little girl, I am speaking to you; arise!"

He, however, repeatedly cautioned them not to let any one know about it, and directed them to give her something to eat.

When it came Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; many, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get all this?" they asked; "What is the wisdom that is given to this man, and miracles such as these that happen at his hands?

And he was unable to do any miracle there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick folk and healed them.

And he wondered at their lack of faith. So he went among the neighboring villages, teaching.

Then summoning the Twelve to him, he began to send them out two by two, giving them authority over unclean spirits.

He bade them take nothing but a staff for their journey; no bread, no wallet, no coins in their purse;

"Wherever you enter a house," he told them, "remain there until you leave the place;

"He is Elijah," said others. And still others were saying, "He is a prophet, like one of the old prophets."

But when Herod heard, he said, "That John whom I beheaded has come back to life."

Now this Herod had sent and arrested John, and bound him in prison, for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, whom he had married.

but she could not, for Herod was afraid of John because he knew that he was a just and holy man. So he kept him safe. When he listened to John he was much exercised, yet he found pleasure in listening to him.

He even swore to her that whatever she asked, he would give it to her, up to half his kingdom.

Then the king was exceedingly sorry; yet on account of his oaths and his guests he was unwilling to disappoint her.

So he sent at once a soldier of the guard with orders to bring his head.

And he went and beheaded John in prison, brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young girl, and she gave it to her mother.

Then he said to them, "Come apart, yourselves, to a quiet spot, and rest a while." For there were many coming and going, and they could not get time even to eat.

So when Jesus landed he saw a vast multitude, and he was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he began to teach them many things.

In answer he said to them, "You yourselves are to give them food." "Are we to go and buy fifty dollars worth of bread," they said, "and give them food?"

"How many loaves have you?" he answered. "Go and see." When they had found out, they said, "Five, and two fishes."

Then he directed them to make all sit down by companies on the green grass.

Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven he blessed, broke the loaves in pieces, and kept giving to the disciples to distribute.

The two fish also he divided to them all.

Then he at once compelled the disciples to embark in the boat and go before him to Bethsaida on the other side, while he sent the people away.

After he had taken leave of them, he went away into the mountain to pray.

And when evening came, the boat was half-way across the sea, while he was on shore alone;

but when he saw them distressed in rowing (for the wind was against them), about the fourth watch of the night he went to them, walking upon the sea,

But he at once spoke with them, saying. "Courage! It is I. Do not be afraid!"

Then he got into the boat beside them, and the wind ceased, and they were utterly astounded,

and began running over that whole country, and carrying the sick about on their beds, wherever they heard he was.

And whenever he entered into villages or cities or the fields they would lay the sick in the market-places and beseech him to let them touch even the tassel of his cloak, and all who touched him were made well.

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, hypocrites," he answered. "As it is written, 'This people honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far from me;

"It is praiseworthy, is it," he exclaimed, "to reject the command of God that you may keep your tradition!

Then again he called the crowd to him and said:

After he had left the crowd and gone indoors his disciples began asking him about the parable.

"Are even you without understanding?" he said. "Do you not perceive that nothing whatever from without can defile a man by entering him,

because it does not go into his heart, but into his belly, and passes away, ejected from him?" By these words he pronounced all foods clean.

"What comes out of a man," he continued, "is what defiles him.

After he rose and left that place, he went away into the region of Tyre and Sidon. Here he went into a house and wished no one to know it but he could not be hid.

"Let the children be filled first," he said to her. "It is unseemly to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

"For that saying of yours, go home," he replied; "the demon has departed from your daughter."

Again he left the region of Tyre, and passed through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, crossing the District of the Ten Towns.

then looking up to heaven with a sigh, he said to him, "Ephphatha!" (that is, "Be opened.")

And his ears were opened and the bond of his tongue was loosened, and he spoke plainly.