¶ And it fortuned after that, he himself went throughout cities and towns, preaching, and shewing the kingdom of God, and the twelve with him. And also certain women, which were healed of evil spirits, and infirmities: Mary called Magdalen, out of whom went seven devils, and Ioanna the wife of Chusa, Herode's steward, And Susanna, And many other: which ministered unto him of their substance.
¶ When much people were gathered to gether, and were come to him out of the cities, he spake by a similitude: A sower went out to sow his seed, and as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and it was trodden under feet, and the fowls of the air devoured it up. And some fell on stone, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moistness. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it. And some fell on good ground, and sprang up and bare fruit, an hundred fold. And as he said these things, he cried: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
¶ And his disciples asked him, saying: what manner similitude this should be. And he said: unto you is it given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God: but to other in similitudes, that when they see, they should not see, and when they hear they should not understand.
¶ The similitude is this. The seed is the word of God. Those that are beside the way, are they that hear, and afterward cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the stones, are they which when they hear the word receive it with joy. And these have no roots, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation go away. That which fell among thorns, are they which hear, and go forth, and are choked with cares and riches, and voluptuous living, and bring forth no fruit. That in the good ground, are they which with a good and pure heart, hear the word, and keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
¶ No man lighteth a candle, and covereth it under a vessel, neither putteth it under the table: but setteth it on a candlestick, that they that enter in, may see light. No thing is in secret, that shall not come abroad: Neither any thing hid, that shall not be known, and come to light. 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 same which he supposeth that he hath.
¶ Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for press. And they told him saying: Thy mother and thy brethren, stand without, and would see thee. He answered, and said unto them: my mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.
¶ It chanced on a certain day that he went into a ship, and his disciples also, and he said unto them: Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth. And as they sailed, he fell asleep, and there arose a storm of wind in the lake, and they were filled with water, and were in jeopardy. And they went to him and awoke him, saying: Master, Master, we are lost. He arose and rebuked the wind, and the tempest of water, and they ceased, and it waxed calm. And he said unto them: where is your faith? They feared and wondered, saying one to another: what fellow is this? for he commandeth both the winds and water, and they obey him? And they sailed unto the region of the Gaderens, which is over against Galile.
¶ As he went out of the ship to land, there met him a certain man out of the city, which had a devil long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in any house: but among graves. When he saw Iesus, he cried, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said: What have I to do with thee Iesus the son of the God most highest? I beseech thee torment me not. Then he commanded the foul spirit to come out of the man. For often times he caught him, and he was bound with chains, and kept with fetters: and he brake the bonds, and was carried of the fiend, into wilderness.
¶ Iesus asked him saying: what is thy name? And he said: Legion, because many devils were entered into him. And they besought him, that he would not command them to go out into the deep. There was there by an herd of many swine, feeding on an hill, and they prayed him, that he would suffer them to enter into them. And he suffered them. Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: And the herd took their course, and ran headlong into the lake, and were choked. When the herdmen saw what had chanced, they fled, and told it in the city and in the villages.
¶ And they came out to see what was done. And came to Iesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Iesus clothed, and in his right mind, and they were afraid. They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devil, was healed. And all the whole multitude of the Gaderens, besought him, that he would depart from them: for they were taken with great fear. And he gat him into the ship and returned back again. Then the man out of whom the devils were departed, besought him, that he might be with him: But Iesus sent him away, saying: Go home again into thine own house, and shew what things God hath done to thee. And he went his way, and preached thorowout all the city what things Iesus had done unto him.
¶ It fortuned that when Iesus was come again, the people received him. For they all longed for him. And behold there came a man named Iairus (and he was a ruler of the synagogue) and he fell down at Iesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house, for he had but a daughter only, of twelve year of age, and she lay a dying. As he went the people thronged him.
¶ And a woman having an issue of blood twelve year (which had spent all her substance among Physicians, neither could be helped of any) came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment, and immediately her issue of blood staunched. And Iesus said: Who is it that touched me? when every man denied, Peter and they that were with him, said: Master, the people thrust thee and vex thee: and thou sayest, who touched me? And Iesus said: Somebody touched me. For I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. When the woman saw, that she was not hid from him, she came trembling, and fell at his feet, and told him before all the people, for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. And he said unto her: Daughter be of good comfort. Thy faith hath made thee safe, go in peace.
¶ While he yet spake, there came one from the rulers of the synagogi's house, which said to him: Thy daughter is dead, disease not the master. When Iesus heard that, He answered to the maidens father saying: Fear not, believe only, and she shall be made whole. And when he came to the house, he suffered no man to go in with him, save Peter, Iames and Ihon, and the father and the mother of the maiden. Every body wept and sorrowed for her. And he said Weep not: for she is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. For they knew that she was dead. And he thrust them all out at the doors, and caught her by the hand, and cried saying: Maid arise. And her spirit came again, and she rose straightway. And he commanded to give her meat. And the father and the mother of her were astonied. But he warned that they should tell no man, what was done.
© Faith of God
William Tyndale 1526