Matthew 8

Jesus Cleanses a Man with Leprosy

1When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. 2And behold, a leper came and bowed down before him, saying, “Lord, if yoʋ are willing, yoʋ can make me clean.” 3So Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4Then Jesus said to him, “Be sure not to tell anyone about this, but go show yoʋrself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

5When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him and pleaded with him, 6saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, suffering terribly.” 7Jesus said to him, “I will come and heal him.” 8But the centurion replied, “Lord, I am not worthy to have yoʋ enter under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I too am a man 1under authority, with soldiers under me. I say to this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 10When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those who were following him, “Truly I say to you, 2not even in Israel have I found such great faith. 11I tell you that many will come from east and west, and recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the banquet table in the kingdom of heaven, 12but the sons of the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” 13Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go; it will be done for you just as yoʋ have believed.” And 3his servant was healed in that hour.

Jesus Heals Many

14When Jesus came into Peter's house, he saw Peter's mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15So he touched her hand, and the fever left her. Then she rose and began to serve 4him. 16When evening came, many who were possessed by demons were brought to him, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. 17This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our infirmities and bore our diseases.”

Would-Be Followers of Jesus

18When Jesus saw the 5large crowds around him, he gave orders to depart to the other side of the sea. 19Then a scribe came up and said to him, “Teacher, I will follow yoʋ wherever yoʋ go.” 20Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 21Then another of 6his disciples said to him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 22But Jesus said to him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Jesus Calms a Storm

23Then he got into 7the boat, and his disciples followed him. 24And behold, a great storm arose on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves. But Jesus was asleep. 25So 8the disciples came to him and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” 26But he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27And the men were amazed, saying, “What kind of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?”

Jesus Heals Two Demon-Possessed Men

28When Jesus came to the other side of the sea, to the region of the 9Gergesenes, he was met by two demon-possessed men who had come out of the tombs. They were so fierce that no one could pass by that way. 29And behold, they cried out, “What do yoʋ have to do with us, 10Jesus, Son of God? Have yoʋ come here to torment us before the appointed time?” 30Now at a distance from them there was a herd of many pigs feeding. 31So the demons begged Jesus, “If yoʋ cast us out, 11let us go into the herd of pigs.” 32He said to them, “Go.” So they came out and went into the 12herd of pigs, and behold, the whole herd 13of pigs rushed down the steep bank into the sea and died in the water. 33Those who had been feeding the pigs then ran off, went into the city, and reported everything, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34And behold, the whole city went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they begged him to depart from their region.