And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many. And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country. Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding. And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine: that we may enter into them. And he said unto them, Go. And when they were come out, they went into the herd of swine: and, behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea, and perished in the waters. And they that kept them fled, and went their ways into the city, and told every thing, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. 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: And they that saw it, told them how it befel to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine. 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. F And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him and all men did marvel. : And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him, and Jesus came into his own city. CHAPTER XXXIII. Jesus cures a Paralytic in Capernaum. AND again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door; and he preached the word unto them. And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy and they : sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him, And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the house-top, and let him down through the tiling, with his couch, into the midst before Jesus. And Jesus seeing their faith, said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. And the Scribes, and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone? And immediately, when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your hearts? For whether is easier to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? But that ye may know that the son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (he saith to the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house. And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all; insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion. But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men, CHAPTER XXXIV. Matthew is called from the receipt of custom, near Capernaum. The Disciples are blamed for not fasting. AND he went forth again by the sea-side; and all the multitude rescrted unto him, and he taught them. And as he passed by, he saw Levi' the son of Alpheus, sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And Levi made him a great feast in his own house. And it came to pass, that, as Jesus sat at meat in his house, many publicans and sinners sat also together with Jesus and his disciples: for there were many, and they followed him.. And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners ? And Jesus answering, said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. * St. Matthew, called Levi. And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink? And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast. But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast. it And he spake also a parable unto them ; No man seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment else the new piece that filled up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse, for that which is put in to fill up taketh from the garment. it Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. No man also having drunk old wine, straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better. |