A Man with a Paralyzed Hand
(Matthew 12.9-14Luke 6.6-11)1 The next time Jesus went into the synagogue, a man with a paralyzed hand was there. 2 The Pharisees wanted to accuse Jesus of doing something wrong, and they kept watching to see if Jesus would heal him on the Sabbath.
3 Jesus told the man to stand up where everyone could see him. 4 Then he asked, “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?” But no one said a word.
5 Jesus was angry as he looked around at the people. Yet he felt sorry for them because they were so stubborn. Then he told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did, and his bad hand was healed.
6 The Pharisees left. And at once they started making plans with Herod's followers to kill Jesus.
Large Crowds Come to Jesus
7 Jesus led his disciples down to the shore of the lake. Large crowds followed him from Galilee, Judea, 8 and Jerusalem. People came from Idumea, as well as other places east of the Jordan River. They also came from the region around the towns of Tyre and Sidon. All of these crowds came because they had heard what Jesus was doing. 9 He even had to tell his disciples to get a boat ready to keep him from being crushed by the crowds.
10 After Jesus had healed many people, the other sick people begged him to let them touch him. 11 And whenever any evil spirits saw Jesus, they would fall to the ground and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 But Jesus warned the spirits not to tell who he was.
Jesus Chooses His Twelve Apostles
(Matthew 10.1-4Luke 6.12-16)13 Jesus decided to ask some of his disciples to go up on a mountain with him, and they went. 14 Then he chose twelve of them to be his apostles, so they could be with him. He also wanted to send them out to preach 15 and to force out demons. 16 Simon was one of the twelve, and Jesus named him Peter. 17 There were also James and John, the two sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them Boanerges, which means “Thunderbolts.” 18 Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus were also apostles. The others were Simon, known as the Eager One, 19 and Judas Iscariot, who later betrayed Jesus.
Jesus and the Ruler of Demons
(Matthew 12.22-32Luke 11.14-23Luke 12.10)20 Jesus went back home, and once again such a large crowd gathered that there was no chance even to eat. 21 When Jesus' family heard what he was doing, they thought he was crazy and went to get him under control.
22 Some teachers of the Law of Moses came from Jerusalem and said, “This man is under the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons! He is even forcing out demons with the help of Beelzebul.”
23 Jesus told the people to gather around him. Then he spoke to them in riddles and said:
How can Satan force himself out? 24 A nation whose people fight each other won't last very long. 25 And a family that fights won't last long either. 26 So if Satan fights against himself, that will be the end of him.
27 How can anyone break into the house of a strong man and steal his things, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can take everything.
28 I promise you that any of the sinful things you say or do can be forgiven, no matter how terrible those things are. 29 But if you speak against the Holy Spirit, you can never be forgiven. That sin will be held against you forever.
30 Jesus said this because the people were saying that he had an evil spirit in him.
Jesus' Mother and Brothers
(Matthew 12.46-50Luke 8.19-21)31 Jesus' mother and brothers came and stood outside. Then they sent someone with a message for him to come out to them. 32 The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside and want to see you.”
33 Jesus asked, “Who is my mother and who are my brothers?” 34 Then he looked at the people sitting around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 35 Anyone who obeys God is my brother or sister or mother.”
1 And he entred againe into ye Synagogue, and there was a man which had a withered had. 2 And they watched him, whether he would heale him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him. 3 Then he saide vnto the man which had the withered hand, Arise: stand forth in the middes. 4 And he saide to them, Is it lawfull to doe a good deede on the Sabbath day, or to doe euil? to saue the life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5 Then hee looked rounde about on them angerly, mourning also for the hardnesse of their hearts, and saide to the man, Stretch foorth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hande was restored, as whole as the other. 6 And the Pharises departed, and straightway gathered a councill with the Herodians against him, that they might destroy him. 7 But Iesus auoided with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude followed him from Galile, and from Iudea, 8 And from Ierusalem, and from Idumea, and beyonde Iordan: and they that dwelled about Tyrus and Sidon, when they had heard what great things he did, came vnto him in great number. 9 And he commanded his disciples, that a litle shippe should waite for him, because of the multitude, lest they shoulde throng him. 10 For hee had healed many, in so much that they preassed vpon him to touch him, as many as had plagues. 11 And when the vncleane spirits sawe him, they fel downe before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Sonne of God. 12 And he sharply rebuked them, to the ende they should not vtter him. 13 Then hee went vp into a mountaine, and called vnto him whome he woulde, and they came vnto him. 14 And hee appoynted twelue that they should be with him, and that he might send them to preache, 15 And that they might haue power to heale sicknesses, and to cast out deuils. 16 And the first was Simon, and hee named Simon, Peter, 17 Then Iames the sonne of Zebedeus, and Iohn Iames brother (and surnamed them Boanerges, which is, the sonnes of thunder,) 18 And Andrew, and Philippe, and Bartlemew, and Matthewe, and Thomas, and Iames, the sonne of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, and Simon the Cananite, 19 And Iudas Iscariot, who also betraied him, and they came home. 20 And the multitude assembled againe, so that they could not so much as eate bread. 21 And when his kinsfolkes heard of it, they went out to laie hold on him: for they sayde that he was beside himselfe. 22 And the Scribes which came downe from Hierusalem, saide, He hath Beelzebub, and through the prince of the deuils he casteth out deuils. 23 But he called them vnto him, and said vnto them in parables, How can Satan driue out Satan? 24 For if a kingdome bee deuided against it selfe, that kingdome can not stand. 25 Or if a house bee deuided against it selfe, that house can not continue. 26 So if Satan make insurrection against himselfe, and be deuided, hee can not endure but is at an ende. 27 No man can enter into a strong mans house, and take away his goods, except hee first binde that strong man, and then spoyle his house. 28 Verely I say vnto you, all sinnes shalbe forgiuen vnto the children of men, and blasphemies, wherewith they blaspheme: 29 But hee that blasphemeth against the holy Ghost, shall neuer haue forgiuenesse, but is culpable of eternall damnation. 30 Because they saide, Hee had an vncleane spirit. 31 Then came his brethren and mother, and stoode without, and sent vnto him, and called him. 32 And the people sate about him, and they said vnto him, Beholde, thy mother, and thy brethren seeke for thee without. 33 But hee answered them, saying, Who is my mother and my brethren? 34 And hee looked rounde about on them, which sate in compasse about him, and saide, Beholde my mother and my brethren. 35 For whosoeuer doeth the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother.