One day, Jesus was in an area of the Sea of Galilee called the Decapolis. (That means Ten Towns.) A man who was deaf and could hardly talk was brought to Jesus by some of his friends. They begged Jesus to lay his hands on the man and heal him.

Jesus led the man away from the crowd so they could be alone. He put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit on his own fingers and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and said, "Ephphatha," which means, "Be Opened!" Immediately, the man could hear perfectly.

The people who had brought the man to Jesus were totally amazed. They said, "Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who cannot speak."