9 ¹⁴ When they came back to the disciples they saw a large crowd surrounding them and lawyers arguing is with them. 9 ¹⁵ As soon as they saw Jesus the whole crowd were overcome with awe, and they ran forward to welcome him. 9 ¹⁶ He asked them, 'What is this argument about?' 9 ¹⁷ A man in the crowd spoke up: 'Master, I brought my son to you. He is possessed by a spirit which makes him speechless. 9 ¹⁸ Whenever it attacks him, is it dashes him to the ground, and he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and goes rigid. I asked your disciples to cast it out, but they failed.' 9 ¹⁹ Jesus answered: 'What an unbelieving and perverse generation! How long shall I be with you? How long must I endure you? Bring him to me.' 9 ²⁰ So they brought the boy to him; and as soon as the spirit saw him it threw the boy into convulsions, and he fell on the ground and rolled about foaming at the mouth. 9 ²¹ Jesus asked his father, 'How long has he been like this?' 'From childhood,' 9 ²² he replied; 'often it has tried to make an end of him by throwing him into the fire or into water. But if it is at all possible for you, take pity upon us and help us.' 9 ²³ 'If it is possible!' said Jesus. 'Everything is possible to one who has faith.' 9 ²⁴ 'I have faith,' cried the boy's father; 'help me where faith falls short.' 9 ²⁵ Jesus saw then that the crowd was closing in upon them, so he rebuked the unclean spirit. 'Deaf and dumb spirit.' he said, 'I command you, come out of him and never go back!' 9 ²⁶ After crying aloud and racking him fiercely, it came out; and the boy looked like a corpse; in fact, many said, 'He is dead.' 9 ²⁷ But Jesus took his hand and raised him to his feet, and he stood up.
9 ²⁸ Then Jesus went indoors, and his disciples asked him privately, 'Why could not we cast it out?' 9 ²⁹ He said, 'There is no means of casting out this sort but prayer.' Some witnesses add: and fasting.