The Bible Story Part 240

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And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him; and crying out with a loud voice, he saith, "What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the Most High G.o.d? I adjure thee by G.o.d, torment me not."

For he said unto him, "Come forth, thou unclean spirit, out of the man."

And he asked him, "What is thy name?"

And he saith unto him, "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 on the mountain side a great herd of swine feeding. And they besought him, saying, "Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them."

And he gave them leave. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered into the swine: and the herd rushed down the steep into the sea, in number about two thousand; and they were drowned in the sea.

And they that fed them fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they came to see what it was that had come to pa.s.s. And they came to Jesus, and beheld him who was possessed by demons sitting, clothed and in his right mind, even him that had the legion: and they were afraid. And they that saw it declared unto them what {140} had happened to him that was possessed with demons, and concerning the swine. And they began to beseech him to depart from their borders. And as he was entering into the boat, he that had been possessed with demons besought him that he might be with him. And he suffered him not, but saith unto him, "Go to thy house unto thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and how he had mercy on thee."

And he went his way, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men marveled.

And a woman who had been an invalid for twelve years, and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse, having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.

For she said; "If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole."

And straightway she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?"

And his disciples said unto him, "Thou seest the mult.i.tude thronging thee, and sayest thou, 'Who touched me?'"

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy disease."

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VII

THE LITTLE GIRL WHO DIED

_How the Lord Jesus Brought to Life Jairus' Little Daughter_.

And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat unto the other side, a great mult.i.tude was gathered unto him: and he was by the sea.

And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet, and beseecheth him much, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hand on her, that she may be made whole, and live."

And he went with him; and a great mult.i.tude followed him, and they thronged him.

While he was on the way, they come from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying, "Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?"

But Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, "Fear not, only believe."

And he allowed no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. And they come to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth a tumult, and many weeping and wailing greatly.

And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, "Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth."

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And they laughed him to scorn. But he, having put them all forth, taketh the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goeth in where the child was. And taking the child by the hand, he said unto her, "Talitha c.u.mi"; that is, "Little girl, I say unto thee, Arise."

And straightway the little girl rose up, and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were greatly amazed. And he charged them much that no man should know this: and he commanded that something should be given her to eat.

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VIII

LEARNING TO SERVE.

_How the Lord Jesus Sent His Disciples Out to Tell of Him_.

And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits; and he charged them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse; but to go shod with sandals: and, said he, "Put not on two coats."

And he said unto them, "Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence. And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them."

And they went out, and preached that men should repent. And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them.

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IX

THE FEEDING OF THE MULt.i.tUDE

_How the Lord Jesus Invited the Mult.i.tude to a Supper, and How, Having Won Great Fame, the People Would Have Made Him King, but He Refused_.

And the apostles gathered about Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.

And he saith unto them, "Come ye apart into a desert place, and rest awhile."

For there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desert place. And the people saw them going, and many knew them, and they ran there together on foot from all the cities, and arrived before them.

And he came forth and saw a great mult.i.tude, and he had compa.s.sion on them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, "The place is desert, and the day is now far spent: send them away, that they may go into the country and villages round about, and buy themselves something to eat."

But he answered and said unto them, "Give ye them to eat."

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