The Disciples’ Failure to Heal

9:14 When they came to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and experts in the law20 arguing with them. 9:15 When the whole crowd saw him, they were amazed and ran21 at once and greeted him. 9:16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 9:17 A member of the crowd said to him, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute. 9:18 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 cast it out, but22 they were not able to do so.”23 9:19 He answered them,24 “You25 unbelieving26 generation! How much longer27 must I be with you? How much longer must I endure28 you?29 Bring him to me.” 9:20 So they brought the boy30 to him. When the spirit saw him, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He31 fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 9:21 Jesus32 asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. 9:22 It has often thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you are able to do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 9:23 Then Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you are able?’33 All things are possible for the one who believes.” 9:24 Immediately the father of the boy cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!”

9:25 Now when Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked34 the unclean spirit,35 saying to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 9:26 It shrieked, threw him into terrible convulsions, and came out. The boy36 looked so much like a corpse that many said, “He is dead!” 9:27 But Jesus gently took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.

9:28 Then,37 after he went into the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 9:29 He told them, “This kind can come out only by prayer.”38