Luke 8

1 Soon afterward, Jesus [the Messiah, Christ] traveled from one town [city] and village [rural area] to another, preaching [proclaiming, heralding] and proclaiming [announcing, evangelizing] the good news [Gospel, message of salvation] of the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the Almighty, Creator]. The Twelve [apostles, disciples] were with Him [in His company, accompanying Him], word study 2 as well as some women [certain female followers] who had been healed [made whole, restored to health] of evil spirits [unclean, malevolent beings] and infirmities [weaknesses, frailties]: Mary [a devoted follower of Jesus] called Magdalene [from Magdala, a town in Palestine], from whom seven demons [evil, unclean spirits] had gone out [been cast away, expelled], word study 3 Joanna [the wife of a high-ranking official] the wife of Herod’s [tetrarch, a ruler of a region] household manager [steward, one who oversees] Chuza, Susanna, and many [numerous, a large group of] others. These women [female followers, disciples] were ministering [serving, providing for] to them out of their own [personal, private] means [resources, wealth]. word study 4 While a large [great, multitude] crowd [of people, gathering] was gathering [collecting, assembling] and people [from every city, many towns] were coming [journeying, traveling] to Jesus [to hear him, to see him] from town [city] after town, He told [spoke, shared] them this [a certain, particular] parable [story, simile, comparison]: word study 5 “A farmer [sower, one who scatters seed] went out to sow [scatter, disperse] his seed. And as he was sowing [planting, cultivating], some seed fell along the path [road, way side], where it was trampled [trodden down, crushed], and the birds [fowls, winged creatures] of the air [heaven, sky] devoured [ate, consumed] it. word study 6 Some [other, different] fell on [stony] rocky ground [a mass of rock], and when it came up [grew, sprouted], the seedlings [young plants] withered [dried up, lacked vitality] because they had [lacked, were without] no [absence of] moisture [dampness or wetness]. word study 7 Other [different, another] seed fell among [in the midst of, surrounded by] thorns [prickly plants], which grew up with [together, simultaneously] it and choked [overwhelmed, suffocated] the seedlings [young plants, tender shoots]. word study 8 Still other [different, another kind of] seed fell on good [beneficial, fertile] soil, where it sprang up [grew, produced] and produced a crop [fruit, harvest]—a hundredfold [a hundred times more, abundantly].” As Jesus said this, He called out [cried, spoke loudly], “He who has ears [the ability to hear, understand] to hear, let him hear [listen, obey].” word study 9 Then [at that moment, next] His disciples [learners, followers] asked [questioned, sought to understand] Him what [which, this particular one] this [specific, aforementioned] parable [illustrative story, moral lesson] meant [signified, represented, conveyed]. word study 10 He replied, “The knowledge [insight, understanding] of the mysteries [secrets, hidden truths] of the kingdom [royal power, dominion] of God [the one true deity] has been given [bestowed, granted] to you, but to others [the remaining ones] I speak [teach, proclaim] in parables [stories, comparisons], so that, ‘though seeing [perceiving, looking], they may not see [discern, understand]; though hearing [listening, perceiving], they may not understand [comprehend, grasp].’ word study 11 Now this [the point of the story] is the meaning [interpretation, explanation] of the parable [illustration, moral lesson]: The seed [God’s message] is the word [Logos, divine Expression] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator]. word study 12 The seeds along the path [by the way side, beside the road] are those who hear [listen, understand, and obey], but the devil [the Evil One, Satan] comes [approaches, draws near] and takes away [steals, lifts up] the word [message, logos] from their hearts [minds, inner being], so that they may not [lest they] believe [trust, have faith] and be saved [rescued, delivered from sin]. word study 13 The seeds on rocky ground [upon the stones, with rock underneath] are those who hear [listen and understand, receive with the ear] the word [Logos, the divine message] and receive it with joy [with gladness, joyful acceptance], but they have no root [no deep foundation]. They believe [trust, have faith] for a season [for a while, a short time], but in the time of testing [in temptation, trial, or tribulation], they fall away [leave, depart, or abandon their faith]. word study 14 The seeds that fell among the thorns [prickly plants, weeds] are those who hear [listen and understand], but as they go on their way [journey through life], they are choked [crowded out, blocked] by the worries [anxieties, concerns], riches [wealth, material possessions], and pleasures [sensual delights, desires] of this life [daily existence, earthly experience], and their fruit [spiritual growth, maturity] does not mature [come to perfection, ripen]. word study 15 But the seeds on good [fertile, productive] soil are those with a noble [honest, upright] and good [beneficial, virtuous] heart, who hear [listen to, obey] the word [message, truth], cling [hold fast, keep] to it, and by persevering [enduring, patiently waiting] produce [bring forth, yield] a crop [fruit, harvest]. word study 16 No one [nobody, none] lights a lamp [a portable light source, symbolizing spiritual guidance] and covers it with a jar [a vessel, a container] or puts it under a bed [a couch, a place of rest]. Instead, he sets it on a stand [a lampstand, a holder for the lamp], so those who enter [come in, associate with] can see the light [the luminousness, spiritual illumination]. word study 17 For there is nothing [absolutely no thing, no secret] hidden [concealed, kept from view] that will not be disclosed [made known, revealed], and nothing [no thing, not a single thing] concealed [hidden, secret] that will not be made known [clearly understood, brought to light] and brought to light [made visible, openly shown]. word study 18 Pay attention [take heed, be careful], therefore, to how [in what manner, with what attitude] you listen [hear and obey, give heed to]. Whoever has [possesses, holds onto] will be given [granted, bestowed upon] more [an abundance, a greater portion], but whoever does not have [lacks, is without], even what he thinks [supposes, believes] he has [possesses, holds onto] will be taken away [removed, lifted up] from him [away from his grasp, out of his possession].” word study 19 Then [at that time, afterwards] Jesus’ mother [his female parent, the one who gave birth to him] and brothers [his male siblings, fellow believers] came [approached, drew near] to see [visit, meet with] Him, but they were unable [lacked the power, could not] to reach [come near, meet with] Him because [on account of, due to] of the crowd [a large group of people, a multitude]. word study 20 He was told [informed, announced to him], “Your mother [female parent, caregiver] and brothers [male siblings, fellow believers] are standing [positioned, waiting] outside [externally, beyond], wanting [desiring, wishing] to see [perceive, encounter] You [as the Messiah, personally].” word study 21 But He replied, “My mother [and female relatives] and brothers [fellow believers, male siblings] are those who hear [listen and obey] the word [Logos, divine message] of God [the Father, Creator] and carry [obey, fulfill] it out [put into practice, bring to completion].” word study 22 One day [on a certain day, at a specific time] Jesus said to His disciples [His learners, followers], “Let us cross [pass over, go across] to the other side [the opposite shore, the farther side] of the lake [a body of water, a sea].” So He got into a boat [a ship, a vessel] with them and set out [launched forth, began their journey]. word study 23 As they sailed [traveled by sea, navigated], He fell asleep [deeply, into a heavy slumber], and a windstorm [storm of wind, strong whirlwind] came down [fell, descended] on the lake [large body of water, pond], so that the boat [ship, vessel] was being swamped [filled with water, filling], and they were in great danger [jeopardy, peril, at risk of sinking]. word study 24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master [Lord, Commander], Master, we are perishing [dying, being destroyed]!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked [warned, scolded] the wind [air, breath] and the raging [turbulent, violent] waters, and they subsided [ceased, stopped], and all was calm [peaceful, serene]. word study 25 “Where [in what location, at what point] is your [personal, inner] faith [trust, confidence in God]?” He asked [said, spoke]. Frightened [afraid, filled with awe] and amazed [marvelling, wondering], they asked [said, spoke] one another [each other, mutually], “Who [what kind of person, what manner of man] is this [He, the Messiah]? He commands [gives orders to, has authority over] even the winds [the air, the breath of God] and the water [the sea, the spiritual realm], and they obey [listen to, follow] Him [as their Lord, Master]!” word study 26 Then they sailed [across the lake, to the opposite side] to the region [country, area] of the Gerasenes [Gadarenes, inhabitants of Gadara], across the lake [opposite, over against] from Galilee [the Sea of Galilee, a region in Palestine]. word study 27 When Jesus stepped ashore [onto the land, to the shore], He was met by a demon-possessed [having evil spirits, under demonic control] man from the town [city, a populated area]. For a long time [a very long season, many years] this man had not worn clothing [garments, outer attire] or lived in a house [dwelling, a physical home], but he stayed [remained, abided] in the tombs [memorials, burial places, sepulchres]. word study 28 When the man saw [perceived, gazed at] Jesus, he cried out [yelled, screamed] and fell down [prostrated himself, threw himself to the ground] before Him, shouting in a loud [great, intense] voice, “What do You want [desire, intend] with me, Jesus [the Son of God, the Messiah], Son of the [supreme] Most High God [the Creator, the Almighty]? I beg [implore, beseech] You not to torture [torment, afflict] me [cause me severe pain or distress]!” word study 29 For Jesus had commanded [given an order to, directed] the unclean [impure, morally defiled] spirit [breath, vital principle] to come out [to go out, to depart] of the man [a human being]. Many times [oftentimes, frequently] it had seized [taken control of, snatched] him, and though he was bound [tied, shackled] with chains [bonds, restraints] and shackles [fetters, foot restraints], he had broken [torn apart, violently pulled] the chains [bonds, restraints] and been driven [pushed forward, compelled] by the demon [evil spirit, unclean spirit] into [toward, into the direction of] solitary [deserted, uninhabited] places [deserts, wilderness areas]. word study 30 “What [which one, specifically] is your [personal, given] name [identity, character, authority]?” Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] asked [questioned, sought information]. “Legion [a large group, a multitude, many],” he replied [said, spoke], because [since, for the reason that] many [a large number, numerous] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] had gone [entered, come into] into him [the man, the individual]. word study 31 And the demons [they, evil spirits] kept begging [pleading, entreating] Jesus not to order [command, give a directive] them to go [depart, leave] into the Abyss [the deep, a place of punishment]. word study 32 There on the hillside [in that place, nearby] a large herd [a group, multitude] of pigs [hogs, unclean animals] was feeding [grazing, rooting for food]. So the demons [evil spirits] begged [pleaded, entreated] Jesus to let them enter [to go into, to dwell in] the pigs, and He gave them permission [allowed, suffered them to enter]. word study 33 Then [at that moment, next] the demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] came out [departed, exited] of the man [a human, a person] and went into [entered, took control of] the pigs [swine, unclean animals], and the herd [a group of animals, a flock] rushed down [stampeded, ran violently] the steep [sharp, rugged] bank into the lake [a body of water, a sea] and was drowned [choked, overwhelmed, perished]. word study 34 When those tending [feeding, caring for] the pigs saw [perceived, experienced] what had happened [come to pass, occurred], they ran off [fled, departed quickly] and reported [announced, told] this in the town [city, urban area] and countryside [fields, rural area]. word study 35 So the people went out [to see what had come to pass] to see what had happened. They came to Jesus [the son of God, the Savior] and found the man [who had been possessed] whom the demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] had left, sitting [in a state of rest and obedience] at Jesus’ feet, clothed [dressed, restored to dignity] and in his right mind [sane, moderate, and spiritually whole]; and they were afraid [filled with awe, reverence, and fear]. word study 36 Meanwhile [at that time, then], those who had seen [perceived, witnessed] it reported [told, announced] how the [under the power of evil spirits] demon-possessed man [person, individual] had been healed [made whole, saved from harm]. word study 37 Then all [the whole multitude] the people of the region [surrounding country] of the Gerasenes [Gadarenes, inhabitants of Gadara] asked Jesus to depart [go away, leave] from them, because great [intense, overwhelming] fear [alarm, terror] had taken hold [oppressed, constrained] of them. So He got into the boat [ship, vessel] and started back [returned, turned back]. word study 38 The man [from whom the devils were departed] whom the demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] had left [gone out, departed from] begged [prayed, besought] to go [be with, accompany] with Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation]. But He sent him away [released, set free], saying [to speak, to tell], word study 39 “Return [to your home, to your own house] home and describe [tell, declare, relate fully] how much [just as, to the extent that] God [the one true deity, Creator] has done [made, created, brought about] for you.” So the man went away [departed, went his way] and proclaimed [preached, heralded, published] all over [throughout, in every part of] the town [city, community] how much [just as, to the extent that] Jesus [God is salvation, the Messiah] had done [made, created, brought about] for him. word study 40 When Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] returned, the crowd [a large multitude, a gathering of people] welcomed Him [with gladness, eagerly], for they had all [every single one, without exception] been waiting [looking forward, anticipating] for Him [the one they expected, the Savior]. word study 41 Just then [at that very moment, behold] a synagogue [Jewish meeting place, gathering] leader [ruler, chief] named Jairus [a significant figure, a leader of the synagogue] came [approached, drew near] and fell [prostrated himself, collapsed] at Jesus’ [the Messiah, the Savior] feet [in reverence, as a sign of respect]. He begged [pleaded, besought] Him to come [to enter, to go] to his house [home, dwelling place], word study 42 because his only [unique, one-of-a-kind] daughter, who was about twelve [years of age], was dying [near to death, passing away]. As Jesus went with him, the crowds [multitudes, large groups of people] pressed [thronged, choked] around Him, word study 43 including a woman [having an issue of blood, with a flow of blood] who had suffered [been afflicted, endured] from bleeding [a discharge of blood, a flow of blood] for twelve [a dozen] years. She had spent [expended, used up] all her money [living, substance] on physicians [doctors, medical men], but no one [none, nobody] was able [strong enough, empowered] to heal [cure, restore to health] her. word study 44 She came up behind [after, following] Jesus and touched [reached out to, made contact with] the fringe [edge, border, tassel] of His cloak [garment, outer clothing], and immediately [at once, instantly, without delay] her bleeding [issue of blood, flow of blood] stopped [ceased, was stanched, came to an end]. word study 45 “Who [which one, specifically] touched Me [attached oneself to, made physical contact with]?” Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] asked. But they all [every single one of them] denied [rejected, refused to acknowledge] it. “Master [one in charge, commander],” said Peter [the rock, a name given by Jesus], “the people [a large crowd, multitude] are crowding [pressing in, thronging] and pressing [oppressing, holding in a tight spot] against You [toward You, in Your direction].” word study 46 But Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] declared, “Someone [a certain person, one] touched [to attach oneself to, come into contact with] Me, for I know [perceive, am aware] that power [miraculous ability, divine strength] has gone out [come forth, proceeded] from Me [out of my being, from my person].” word study 47 Then the woman [seeing that she was not hid], seeing that she could not escape notice [remain unseen], came trembling [with fear, shaking] and fell down [prostrated herself] before Him. In the presence [before the eyes] of all the people [the crowd, the multitude], she explained [declared, told] why she had touched [reached out to, made contact with] Him and how she had immediately [instantly, right away] been healed [made whole, cured]. word study 48 “Daughter [a female child of God],” said Jesus, “your [addressing her directly] faith [trust and confidence in God] has healed [saved or delivered from harm] you [personally and directly]. Go [travel or journey] in [toward or into] peace [a state of harmony and prosperity].” word study 49 While He was still [yet, continuing to] speaking, someone [a certain one, an individual] arrived from the house of the synagogue leader [the ruler of the synagogue]. “Your daughter [thy daughter, female child] is dead [has died, passed away],” he told Jairus. “Do not [stop, cease] bother [trouble, harass] the Teacher [the Master, Instructor] anymore [any longer, from this point on].” word study 50 But Jesus [hearing and understanding] overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid [do not have fear or dread]; just believe [trust and have faith], and she will be healed [made whole, saved].” word study 51 When He entered [came into, arrived at] the house [home, dwelling place], He did not allow [suffered not, permitted not] anyone [no man, nobody] to go in with Him except [save, but] Peter [the rock, a disciple], John [the beloved apostle], James [a brother of Jesus], and the child’s [the maiden’s, the girl’s] father [parent, male guardian] and mother [female guardian, caregiver]. word study 52 Meanwhile, everyone [all the people, the crowd] was weeping [crying out loud, mourning] and mourning [bewailing, lamenting] for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping [do not cry, do not lament]; she is not dead [has not passed away, is not deceased] but asleep [sleeping, resting].” word study 53 And [also, in addition] they laughed [to scorn, ridiculed] at Him, knowing [perceiving, being aware] that she was [had become] dead [lifeless, deceased, having passed away]. word study 54 But Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] took her by the hand [grasped her, took hold of her] and called out [cried, spoke loudly], “Child [young one, servant], get up [arise, stand up, be raised]!” word study 55 Her spirit [the vital principle] returned, and at once [instantly, without delay] she got up [arose, stood up from a position of rest]. And He directed [gave orders, commanded] that she be given [bestowed, granted] something to eat [nourishment, sustenance]. word study 56 Her parents [were astonished, amazed] were astounded [to amaze, shocked or confused], but Jesus [the Messiah, Savior] ordered [to command, transmit a directive] them not to tell [to say, speak] anyone [no one, nothing] what [the thing that, the event] had happened [to be, come into being, occurred]. word study