The Power of Faith over a Demon

¹⁴ When^(A) they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputing^(B) with them. ¹⁵ All of a sudden, when the whole crowd saw Him, they were amazed^[a] and ran to greet Him. ¹⁶ Then He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

¹⁷ Out of the crowd, one man answered Him, “Teacher,^(C) I brought my son to You. He has a spirit^(D) that makes him unable to speak.^{(E) 18} Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I asked Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

¹⁹ He replied to them, “You unbelieving^(F) generation! How long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to Me.” ²⁰ So they brought him to Him. When the spirit saw Him, it immediately convulsed the boy. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. ²¹ “How long has this been happening to him?” Jesus asked his father.

“From childhood,” he said. ²² “And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy^(G) him. But if You can do anything, have compassion^(H) on us and help us.”

²³ Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can’?^[b][c] Everything is possible^(I) to the one who believes.”^(J)

²⁴ Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”

²⁵ When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly coming together, He rebuked^(K) the unclean^(L) spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf^(M) spirit,^[d] I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!”

²⁶ Then it came out, shrieking and convulsing^(N) him^[e] violently. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” ²⁷ But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,^(O) and he stood up.

²⁸ After He went into a house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ And He told them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer^(P) [and fasting].”^[f](Q)

The Power of Faith over a Demon

³⁷ The next day,^(A) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. ³⁸ Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he’s my only child.^{(B) 39} Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth;^[a] wounding^[b] him, it hardly ever leaves him. ⁴⁰ I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”^(C)

⁴¹ Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious^[c] generation!^(D) How long will I be with you and put up with you?^(E) Bring your son here.”

⁴² As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy,^(F) and gave him back to his father.^{(G) 43} And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.^(H)

The Second Prediction of His Death

While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing,^(I) He told His disciples,