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¹ Another time he entred into the synagogue, when a man was there who had a withered hand. ² the Pharisees watched Jesus, to see if he would heal him on the sabbath-day, that so they might accuse him. ³ he said then to the man who had the withered hand, rise and stand there in the midst. ⁴ and he ask'd them, is it allowed to do good, or to do mischief on the sabbath-days? to save life, or to kill? but they were very silent. ⁵ then he looking with indignation at those about him, being concern'd at their disingenuous perverse temper, he said to the man, stretch out your hand, which he did, and his hand become sound. ⁶ upon this the Pharisees withdrew, and immediately enter'd into a conspiracy with the Herodians to take away his life. ⁷ But Jesus retired with his disciples towards the sea: where a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea, ⁸ from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and the territory about Jordan, a considerable number of the inhabitants about Tyre and Sidon having heard of his great actions, came likewise to meet him. ⁹ wherefore, to avoid the inconveniences of the crowd, he order'd his disciples to get a small vessel ready to attend him. ¹⁰ for having healed abundance of people, all that were afflicted with any grievous distemper pressed upon him to touch him. ¹¹ and when the impure spirits saw him, they threw themselves at his feet, crying out, "thou art the son of God." ¹² but he strictly charged them, not to make him known.

¹³ At length he went up a mountain, and having appointed a select company to attend him, they came to him. ¹⁴ then he chose twelve of them to be near his person, and afterwards to be gospel-missionaries. ¹⁵ with full power to heal diseases, and dispossess demons. ¹⁶ these were Simon, whom he sirnam'd Peter, James the son of Zebedee, ¹⁷ and John the brother of James, (whom he had named Boanerges, that is to say, sons of thunder.) ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alpheus, Thaddeus, Simon the Canaanite, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. ²⁰ After this they went into an house, and the crowd press'd again upon them, so as to hinder them from taking their meal. ²¹ when his relations heard of this, they went to his relief, for it was said, he fainted away.

²² Some Scribes, who were come from Jerusalem, said, he is confederate with Beelzebub, the prince of the demons enables him to dispossess demons. ²³ but calling them to him, he said by way of similitude, how can satan dispossess satan? ²⁴ if a kingdom be divided against it self, that kingdom cannot last. ²⁵ if a family be divided against it self, it is impossible for it to subsist. ²⁶ so if satan rise up in opposition to his own interest, his power cannot subsist, but must entirely cease. ²⁷ no one can enter into a strong man's house, and plunder his goods, unless the man be first secur'd. ²⁸ I declare unto you, all the sins which men may commit, and whatsoever blasphemies they may utter, may be forgiven them. ²⁹ but he that shall blaspheme against the holy Ghost, shall never be pardoned, but shall be obnoxious to eternal punishment. ³⁰ this was in answer to their saying, he was influenc'd by an impure spirit.

³¹ In the mean time his brothers and his mother came there, and not being able to get within hearing, ³² for the crowd about him, they sent him word to come to them. and when they told him, your mother and brothers and sisters are here without enquiring for you, ³³ He answer'd, who is my mother? who are my brothers? ³⁴ and casting his eyes round the company, there, said he, are my mother and my brothers. ³⁵ for he that does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother.