It happened soon afterwards, that ‘Isa went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the Injil of the Kingdom of Allah. With him were the twelve, 2and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Maryam who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; 3and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod’s steward; Susanna; and many others; who ministered to them from their possessions. 4When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable. 5“The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it. 6Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture. 7Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it. 8Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times.“ As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!“
9Then his disciples asked him, “What does this parable mean?“
10‘Isa said, “To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Allah, but to the rest in parables; so that ‘they may be ever seeing, but never perceiving; and ever hearing, but never understanding.'[1] 11Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of Allah. 12Those along the road are those who hear, then Iblis comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved. 13Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation. 14That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity. 15That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.
16“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light. 17For nothing is hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light. 18Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever does not have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.“
19His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd. 20It was told him by some saying, “Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you.“
21But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of Allah, and do it.“
22Now it happened on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.“ So they launched out. 23But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water. 24They came to him, and awoke him, saying, “Master, master, we are dying!“ He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it was calm. 25He said to them, “Where is your faith?“ Being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, “Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?“ 26They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.
27When ‘Isa stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn’t live in a house, but in the tombs. 28When he saw ‘Isa, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, “What do I have to do with you, ‘Isa Ibn Allah al-‘Ali?[2] I beg you, do not torment me!“ 29For ‘Isa was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.
30‘Isa asked him, “What is your name?“
He said, “Legion,“ for many demons had entered into him. 31They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss. 32Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. He allowed them. 33The demons came out from the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned. 34When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.
35People went out to see what had happened. They came to ‘Isa, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at ‘Isa’s feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed. 37All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. He entered into the boat, and returned. 38But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but ‘Isa sent him away, saying, 39“Return to your house, and declare what great things Allah has done for you.“ He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things ‘Isa had done for him.
40It happened, when ‘Isa returned, that the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. 41Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at ‘Isa’s feet, and begged him to come into his house, 42for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him. 43A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any, 44came behind him, and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped. 45‘Isa said, “Who touched me?“
When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’“
46But ‘Isa said, “Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me.“ 47When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48He said to her, “Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace.“
49While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house came, saying to him, “Your daughter is dead. Do not trouble the Teacher.“
50But ‘Isa hearing it, answered him, “Do not be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed.“
51When he came to the house, he didn’t allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother. 52All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, “Don’t weep. She isn’t dead, but sleeping.“
53They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead. 54But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, “Child, arise!“ 55Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat. 56Her parents were amazed, but he charged them to tell no one what had been done.
[1] 8:10 Adapting the prophet Shaya 6:9 in the Taurat.
[2] 8:28 Ibn Allah al-‘Ali, literally, Son of God Most High.