1 Passado não muito tempo sobre isto, Jesus começou a percorrer as cidades e vilas para anunciar as boas novas do reino de Deus. Fazia-se acompanhar dos doze discípulos.2 Com ele iam algumas mulheres das quais tinha expulso demónios ou a quem tinha curado; entre elas contavam-se Maria Madalena, a quem tinha livrado de sete demónios;3 Joana, mulher de Cuza (encarregado de negócios de Herodes); Susana; e muitas outras que, com os seus próprios meios, contribuíam para o sustento de Jesus e dos discípulos.4 Um dia serviu-se da seguinte ilustração, dirigindo-se a uma grande multidão reunida para ouvi-lo, enquanto muitos outros se aproximavam ainda, vindo de outras cidades:5 Certo homem foi ao campo semear. Quando lançava as sementes ao chão, algumas delas caíram num caminho e foram pisadas. Vieram as aves e comeram-nas porque estavam à vista. Outras sementes caíram em chão pouco fundo com pedras por baixo. Mal começaram a crescer, logo murcharam, morrendo por falta de humidade. Outras sementes, ainda, caíram entre moitas de espinhos, que em pouco tempo sufocaram os rebentos. Mas outras caíram em solo fértil, e quando cresceram deram uma colheita de cem vezes mais do que aquele homem havia plantado. Ao fazer esta ilustração, Jesus acrescentou: Quem pode ouvir, que preste atenção.9 Os apóstolos perguntaram-lhe o que queria dizer aquela ilustração, e Jesus respondeu: Deus concedeu-vos a possibilidade de conhecer o significado destas coisas sobre o reino de Deus. Mas aos outros, fala-se por parábolas, como diz as Escrituras: 'Este povo ouve as palavras porém não entende, vê e não percebe'.11 O que a comparação quer dizer é o seguinte: A semente é a mensagem de Deus. O caminho duro onde caíram algumas das sementes representa aqueles que ouvem as palavras de Deus, mas o Diabo logo as vem roubar, não deixando que as pessoas creiam e sejam salvas. O solo pedregoso representa aqueles que ouvem com prazer, mas a mensagem não fica neles; e não deita raiz nem cresce. Quando chegam as provas desviam-se. A semente entre os espinhos representa os que ouvem e crêem na palavra de Deus mas cuja fé é depois sufocada pelas preocupações, ambições e prazeres da vida, pelo que nunca dão fruto. Mas o solo bom representa as pessoas sinceras e honestas que, ouvindo as palavras de Deus, dão fruto com continuidade.16 Quem viu alguma vez cobrir, ou pôr debaixo da cama, uma lâmpada que tenha sido acesa para iluminar um quarto? É evidente que as lâmpadas são colocadas num lugar bem à vista. Semelhantemente, virá o dia em que tudo será trazido à luz e posto às claras diante de todos. Tomem, pois, cuidado no modo como ouvem, porque a quem tiver entendimento, mais será dado; a quem não o tiver, até o que julga ter lhe será tirado.19 Uma vez, a mãe e os irmãos de Jesus foram vê-lo, mas, por causa da multidão, não conseguiram entrar na casa onde ensinava. Alguém disse-lhe, A tua mãe e os irmãos estão lá fora e querem ver-te. Jesus respondeu:A minha mãe e os meus irmãos são todos aqueles que ouvem a mensagem de Deus e lhe obedecem.22 Certo dia, por aquele tempo, andando com os discípulos num barco, Jesus disse que atravessassem para a outra margem do lago. Durante a travessia adormeceu. Entretanto levantou-se uma enorme tempestade, o barco começou a meter água, e corriam grande perigo.24 Logo os discípulos o despertaram: Mestre, Mestre, olha que nos afundamos!Então Jesus mandou ao vento e às vagas que se acalmassem. E tudo ficou sereno.25 Depois perguntou-lhes: Onde está a vossa fé? Eles, cheios de espanto e medo, diziam entre si: Mas quem é este que até os ventos e as ondas lhe obedecem?26 Chegaram à terra dos gadarenos, que fica na outra banda do Mar da Galileia.27 Quando Jesus saía do barco, veio-lhe ao encontro um homem que, havia muito tempo, estava possuído pelo demónio. Não tendo casa, vivia, sem roupas, no cemitério, entre as sepulturas. Mal viu Jesus, soltou um grito muito forte e, tombando no chão na sua frente, gritava: Que queres de mim, Jesus, Filho do Deus altíssimo? Peço-te que não me atormentes! Pois Jesus ordenava já ao demónio que o abandonasse. Este, muitas vezes tinha-se apoderado daquele homem, de tal modo que, mesmo acorrentado, partia as correntes e fugia para o deserto, inteiramente sob o poder do demónio.30 Como te chamas?, perguntou Jesus.Exército, foi a resposta, porque o homem estava cheio de demónios. E continuavam a pedir a Jesus que não os mandasse para o abismo sem fundo.32 Andava ali perto uma vara de porcos a pastar no monte, e os demónios rogaram-lhe que os deixasse entrar nos animais. Jesus consentiu. Deixaram o homem e entraram nos porcos. Logo a vara inteira se precipitou, caindo por um despenhadeiro no lago, onde se afogou.34 Os porqueiros, ao ver aquilo, fugiram para a cidade próxima, espalhando a notícia pelo caminho,35 e uma multidão saiu para ver o que tinha acontecido. Quando chegaram, viram aquele homem que tinha sido dominado pelo demónio, agora vestido, em seu perfeito juízo, sentado aos pés de Jesus. E toda a multidão ficou assustada.36 Os que tinham assistido contavam como o possuído pelo demónio tinha sido curado.37 E toda aquela gente pedia a Jesus que se fosse embora, porque se espalhou entre eles uma onda de medo. Assim, Jesus voltou para o barco e tornou para a outra margem do lago.38 O homem que tinha estado dominado de demónios pediu para ir também, mas Jesus não o deixou: Volta para a tua família e conta-lhe que coisa maravilhosa Deus te fez. Então ele foi pela cidade anunciando as grandes coisas que Jesus tinha feito por ele!40 Do outro lado do lago, o povo recebeu Jesus de braços abertos, pois já o esperava.41 Um homem chamado Jairo, dirigente da sinagoga, veio ter com Jesus e, caindo-lhe aos pés, pediu-lhe que fosse a sua casa porque tinha uma filha única, uma menina de quase doze anos, que estava à morte. Jesus acompanhou-o, abrindo caminho através do povo.43 Enquanto caminhavam, uma mulher veio por detrás e tocou-lhe, porque havia doze anos que tinha um mal que a fazia perder sangue, não conseguindo encontrar cura, embora tivesse gasto tudo o que tinha com médicos. E eis que, no momento em que lhe tocou na orla do manto, a perda de sangue estancou.45 Quem me tocou?, perguntou Jesus. Todos negaram, e Pedro até acrescentou:Mestre, são tantos os que te apertam de todos os lados.Não, alguém me tocou de propósito, porque senti sair de mim poder curativo.47 Dando-se conta de que não podia esconder-se, a mulher aproximou-se emocionada e, caindo de joelhos diante dele, contou-lhe o motivo por que lhe tinha tocado, afirmando que já estava boa.48 Filha, disse ele, a tua fé te curou. Vai em paz.49 Enquanto falava ainda com a mulher, chegou um mensageiro da casa de Jairo com a notícia: A tua filha já morreu, disse ele. De nada serve ir agora incomodar o Mestre.50 Quando Jesus soube o que tinha acontecido, disse a Jairo: Não receies! Crê somente e ela ficará boa.51 Quando chegaram à casa, Jesus não consentiu que alguém entrasse com ele, exceptuando Pedro, Tiago, João e os pais da menina. A casa estava cheia de pessoas que lamentavam o sucedido, mas ele ordenou: Parem de chorar. Ela não está morta, dorme apenas.53 Esta frase provocou a zombaria porque todos sabiam que a jovem estava morta.54 Então Jesus, tomando-a pela mão, exclamou: Levanta-te, menina!55 E naquele instante ela tornou a viver e pôs-se logo de pé. Dêem-lhe de comer, disse. Os pais ficaram maravilhados, mas Jesus insistiu com eles para que a ninguém contassem o que havia acontecido.

1 And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,2 And certain women, who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven demons.3 And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, who ministered to him of their substance.4 And when many people were collected, and had come to him out of every city, he spoke 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, 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 bore fruit a hundred-fold. 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 doth this parable mean?10 And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others 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 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, who, when they hear, 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 thorns are they, who, 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, who 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 who 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 whoever hath, to him shall be given; and whoever 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 near to him for the crowd.20 And it was told to him by certain, who said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.21 And he answered and said to them, My mother and my brethren are these who hear the word of God, and do it.22 Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a boat with his disciples: and he said to them, Let us go over to the other side of the lake. And they lanched 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 to 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, who had demons a long time, and wore 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 often it had caught him, and he was kept bound with chains, and in fetters: and he broke the bands, and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.)30 And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many demons had 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 a 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 the demons went 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 demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.36 They also who saw it, told them by what means he that was possessed by the demons was healed.37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes, besought him to depart from them: for they were taken with great fear. And he went into the boat, and returned.38 Now the man out of whom the demons had departed, besought him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying,39 Return to thy own house, and show how great things God hath done to thee. And he went away and published throughout the whole city, how great things Jesus had done to him.40 And it came to pass, that, when Jesus had 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 the feet of Jesus, and besought him that he would come into his house:42 For he had one daughter only, about twelve years of age, and she lay dying. (But as he was going, the people thronged him.43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed by 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 hath 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 to him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.48 And he said to her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.49 While he was yet speaking, there cometh one from the house of the ruler of the synagogue, 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 healed.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 derided him, 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 immediately: and he commanded to give her food.56 And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.