¹⁸ Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”

²⁸ After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately,^(A) “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”

²⁹ He replied, “This kind can come out only by prayer.^[a]”