24. Immediately the father shouted, “I do believe. Help me to believe more!”
25. Jesus saw that all the people were running there to see what was happening. So he spoke to the evil spirit. He said, “You evil spirit that makes this boy deaf and stops him from talking—I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!”
26. The evil spirit screamed. It caused the boy to fall on the ground again, and then it came out. The boy looked as if he was dead. Many people said, “He is dead!”
27. But Jesus took hold of his hand and helped him stand up.
28. Then Jesus went into the house. His followers were alone with him there. They said, “Why weren’t we able to force that evil spirit out?”
29. Jesus answered, “That kind of spirit can be forced out only with prayer.”
30. Then Jesus and his followers left there and went through Galilee. Jesus did not want the people to know where they were.
31. He wanted to teach his followers alone. He said to them, “The Son of Man will be handed over to the control of other men, who will kill him. After three days, he will rise from death.”