23
By now they had arrived at the house of the town official, and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and the neighbors bringing in casseroles.
24
Jesus was abrupt: "Clear out! This girl isn't dead. She's sleeping." They told him he didn't know what he was talking about.
25
But when Jesus had gotten rid of the crowd, he went in, took the girl's hand, and pulled her to her feet - alive.
26
The news was soon out, and traveled throughout the region.
27
As Jesus left the house, he was followed by two blind men crying out, "Mercy, Son of David! Mercy on us!"
28
When Jesus got home, the blind men went in with him. Jesus said to them, "Do you really believe I can do this?" They said, "Why, yes, Master!"
29
He touched their eyes and said, "Become what you believe."
30
It happened. They saw. Then Jesus became very stern. "Don't let a soul know how this happened."
31
But they were hardly out the door before they started blabbing it to everyone they met.
32
Right after that, as the blind men were leaving, a man who had been struck speechless by an evil spirit was brought to Jesus.
33
As soon as Jesus threw the evil tormenting spirit out, the man talked away just as if he'd been talking all his life. The people were up on their feet applauding: "There's never been anything like this in Israel!"