Luke 8

“And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their…” Naming Chuza and Herod keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable:” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, gathered, parable. Its relationship to verses 3 and 5 shows what work it does in this passage.

“A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls…” The line’s distinctive content terms include devoured, fell, fowls. Its relationship to verses 4 and 6 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.” The line’s distinctive content terms include fell, lacked, moisture. Its relationship to verses 5 and 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.” The line’s distinctive content terms include thorns, choked, fell. Its relationship to verses 6 and 8 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he…” The line’s distinctive content terms include hear, bare, cried. Its relationship to verses 7 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing…” Naming Unto keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest…” Naming Those keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while…” The line’s distinctive content terms include believe, fall, hear. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cares, choked, fell. Its relationship to verses 13 and 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring…” The line’s distinctive content terms include good, fruit, ground. Its relationship to verses 14 and 16 shows what work it does in this passage.

“No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a…” The line’s distinctive content terms include candle, candlestick, covereth. Its relationship to verses 15 shows what work it does in this passage.

“For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.” The line’s distinctive content terms include brethren, mother, press. Its relationship to verses 18 and 20 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And it was told him by certain which said, Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee.” Naming Thy keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he answered and said unto them, My mother and my brethren are these which hear the word of God, and do it.” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

“Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But as they sailed he fell asleep: and there came down a storm of wind on the lake; and they were filled with water…” The line’s distinctive content terms include asleep, fell, filled. Its relationship to verses 22 and 24 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the…” Naming Master keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he said unto them, Where is your faith? And they being afraid wondered, saying one to another, What manner of man…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.” Naming Gadarenes and Galilee keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no…” The line’s distinctive content terms include abode, certain, city. Its relationship to verses 26 and 28 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, What have I to do with thee…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“(For he had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For oftentimes it had caught him: and he was kept…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Jesus asked him, saying, What is thy name? And he said, Legion: because many devils were entered into him.” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And they besought him that he would not command them to go out into the deep.” The line’s distinctive content terms include besought, command, deep. Its relationship to verses 30 and 32 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And there was there an herd of many swine feeding on the mountain: and they besought him that he would suffer them to…” The line’s distinctive content terms include besought, enter, feeding. Its relationship to verses 31 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then went the devils out of the man, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into…” The line’s distinctive content terms include choked, devils, entered. Its relationship to verses 34 shows what work it does in this passage.

“When they that fed them saw what was done, they fled, and went and told it in the city and in the country.” The line’s distinctive content terms include city, country, fled. Its relationship to verses 33 and 35 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“They also which saw it told them by what means he that was possessed of the devils was healed.” The line’s distinctive content terms include devils, healed, means. Its relationship to verses 35 and 37 shows what work it does in this passage.

“Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were…” Naming Gadarenes keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought him that he might be with him: but Jesus sent him away…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and…” Naming Jairus and Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” Naming Came keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.” Naming Jesus and Somebody keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him…” The line’s distinctive content terms include cause, declared, falling. Its relationship to verses 46 and 48 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.” Naming Daughter keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the…” Naming James and John keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.” Naming Weep keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.” The line’s distinctive content terms include dead, knowing, laughed. Its relationship to verses 52 and 54 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.” Naming Maid keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.