The Skeptics Annotated Bible (741 page)

26 And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.

(9.27-29) Jesus heals two blind men. (Or was it their blind faith that healed them?)

27 And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou Son of David, have mercy on us.

(9.27)
“When Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.”

28 And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.

(9.28)
“Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.”

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

(9.29)
“Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.”

30 And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.

31 But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.

(9.32-33) Jesus heals a “dumb man possessed by a devil.” (Those who cannot speak are possessed by a devil.)

32 As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.

(9.32)
“They brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.”

33 And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.

(9.33)
“And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake,”

34 But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.

(9.34)
“But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.”
An interesting hypothesis, if you believe in devils, that is.

35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

(9.35)
“Jesus went about all the cities and villages … healing every sickness and every disease.”

36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

37 Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;

38 Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.

10
And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples,
he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

(10.1) “He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.”

(10.2-3)
“The names of the twelve apostles are these … Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus.”
351 What were the names of the apostles?

2 Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother;

3 Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus;

4 Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him.

5 These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not:

6 But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

(10.5-6) “Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
352 Should the gospel be preached to everyone?