THE POWER OF FAITH OVER A DEMON

14 Whencc they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and scribes disputingcd with them. 15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran to greet him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing with them about?”

17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher,ce I brought my son to you. He has a spiritcf that makes him unable to speak.cg 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”

19 He replied to them, “You unbelievingch generation, how long will I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring him to me.” 20 So they brought the boy to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into convulsions. 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 destroya him. But if you can do anything, have compassionb on us and help us.”

23 Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’?A Everything is possiblec for the one who believes.”d

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

25 When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebukede the uncleanf spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deafg spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again.”

26 Then it came out, shrieking and throwing himB into terrible convulsions.h The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He’s dead.” 27 But Jesus, taking him by the hand, raised him,i and he stood up.

28 After he had gone into the 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.”C,j