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After this, while Jesus was traveling through some cities and small towns, he preached and told the Good News about God's kingdom. The twelve apostles were with him,
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and also some women who had been healed of sicknesses and evil spirits: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;
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Joanna, the wife of Cuza (the manager of Herod's house); Susanna; and many others. These women used their own money to help Jesus and his apostles.
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When a great crowd was gathered, and people were coming to Jesus from every town, he told them this story:
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"A farmer went out to plant his seed. While he was planting, some seed fell by the road. People walked on the seed, and the birds ate it up.
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Some seed fell on rock, and when it began to grow, it died because it had no water.
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Some seed fell among thorny weeds, but the weeds grew up with it and choked the good plants.