< Matthew 8 >
1 Being come down from the mountain, followed by a great multitude,
2 a leper came, who, presenting himself before him, said, Sir, if you will, you can cleanse me.
3 Jesus stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be you clean. Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
4 Then Jesus said to him, See you tell no person; but go, show yourself to the priest, and make the oblation prescribed by Moses, for notifying the cure to the people.
5 Having entered Capernaum, a centurion accosted him with this request,
6 Sir, my man-servant lies sick at home, exceedingly afflicted with a palsy.
7 Jesus answered, I will go and cure him.
8 The centurion replying, said, Sir, I am not worthy, that you should come under my roof; only say the word, and my servant will be healed.
9 For even I, who am under command myself, having soldiers under me, say to one, Go, and he goes; to another, Come, and he comes; and to my servant, Do this, and he does it.
10 Jesus hearing this, was astonished, and said to those who followed, Indeed, I say to you, not even in Israel have I found so great faith.
11 But I assure you, that many will come from the east and from the west, and will be placed at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven,
12 while the sons of the kingdom shall be thrust out into outer darkness, where will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, Go home; be it to you, according to your faith. That instant his servant was cured.
14 Then Jesus having entered Peter's house, saw his wife's mother lying sick of a fever,
15 and having touched her hand, the fever left her; on which she arose and entertained him.
16 In the evening they presented to him many demoniacs; and he expelled the spirits with a word, and cured all the sick;
17 thus verifying the saying of the Prophet Isaiah, "He has himself carried off our infirmities, and borne our distresses."
18 Jesus seeing himself crowded on all sides, gave orders to pass to the opposite shore.
19 Meantime, a scribe accosted him, saying, Rabbi, I will follow you whithersoever you go.
20 Jesus answered, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have places of shelter, but the Son of Man has not where to repose his head.
21 Another, one of his disciples, said to him, Master, permit me to go first, and bury my father.
22 Jesus answered, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.
23 Then entering the bark, his disciples followed him.
24 Soon after there arose in the sea so great a tempest, that the bark was covered with billows. But he being asleep,
25 the disciples came and waked him, saying, Save us, Master, we perish.
26 He answered, Why are you so timorous, O you distrustful? Then he arose, and having commanded the winds and the sea, a great calm ensued;
27 insomuch that every one exclaimed with admiration, What personage is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey.
28 When he was come to the other side, into the country of the Gadarenes, there met him two demoniacs, issuing out of the monuments, so furious, that no person durst pass that way.
29 These instantly cried, saying, What hast thou to do with us, Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
30 Now there was feeding, at some distance, a great herd of swine.
31 And the friends besought him, saying, If thou expel us, permit us to go into the herd of swine.
32 He answered, Go. And when they were cast out, they went into the swine; on which the whole herd rushed down a precipice into the sea, and perished in the waters.
33 Then the herdsmen fled into the city, and reported everything, and what had happened to the demoniacs.
34 Presently the whole city went out to meet Jesus, and having seen him, entreated him to depart out of their territory.
