Healing Two Possessed

28When Jesus was on the other side, in the land of the Gadarenes,82 two men came out of the tombs to meet Him. They were possessed by demons and were so ferocious that no one could go that way. 29"What do you want from us, Son of God? they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us prematurely?"

30A large herd of pigs was grazing far away from them. 31 And the demons began to ask Him, "If You cast us out, let us[83] into this herd of swine."

32"Go," Jesus answered them. Leaving the possessed, the demons entered the pigs. At the same moment, the whole herd rushed down the steep slope into the sea and perished in the waves. E-33 The swineherds ran into the city and told them all that had happened to the possessed. 34 Then the whole city went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw Him, they asked that He not enter their city and leave its surroundings.

Healing Paralysis in Capernaum

9 Jesus returned to the boat, crossed over to the other side, and arrived in his city. 2 And then the people brought to Him on a stretcher[84] a paralyzed man. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic: "Do not be afraid, young man! Your sins are forgiven."

3 And some of the scribes said to themselves, "He blasphemes!"

4 But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking, said to them: "Why do you harbor such evil thoughts in your hearts? 5Which is easier to say, "Your sins are forgiven" or "Get up and go"? 6But to convince you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins," he said to the paralytic, "arise, take up your bed, and go home!" 7He got up and went home. 8At the sight of this, the people were filled with awe and began to praise God, who had given such power to the people.

Matthew becomes a disciple of Jesus

9As Jesus was returning from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collection site and said to him, "Follow me."

10And when Jesus was eating at dinner[85] in the house, many tax collectors and those who were called sinners[86]b were gathered there, and they took a seat at the same table with him[87]c and his disciples. 11When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, "Why does your Master eat with tax-gatherers and sinners?"

12 Jesus heard this and said: "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 13 Go and consider the words of the Scriptures: "I desire mercy, and not sacrifices." I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

The Question of Fasting

14John's disciples then came to him and asked, "Why do we and the Pharisees fast [often], but your disciples do not fast?"