ngue; and looking up to heaven, he sighed, and
saith unto him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened."

And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was
loosed, and he spake plain. And he charged them that they should tell
no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal
they published it; and were beyond measure astonished, saying:

"He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the
dumb to speak."

CHAPTER VIII

"THOU ART THE CHRIST"

In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to
eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them:

"I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me
three days, and have nothing to eat: and if I send them away fasting to
their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came
from far."

And his disciples answered him: "From whence can a man satisfy these
men with bread here in the wilderness?"

And he asked them: "How many loaves have ye?"

And they said: "Seven."

And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the
seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to
set before them; and they did set them before the people. And they had
a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also
before them. So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the
broken meat that was left seven baskets. And they that had eaten were
about four thousand: and he sent them away.

And straightway he entered into a ship with his disciples, and came
into the parts of Dalmanutha. And the Pharisees came forth, and began
to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.
And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and saith:

"Why doth this generation seek after a sign? Verily I say unto you.
There shall no sign be given unto this generation."

And he left them, and entering into the ship again departed to the
other side.

Now the disciples had forgotten to take bread, neither had they in the
ship with them more than one loaf. And he charged them, saying:

"Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of
Herod."

And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have no
bread." And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them:

"Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? Perceive ye not yet, neither
understand? Have ye your heart yet hardened? Having