Luke 4
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 4
The Temptation of Jesus.[a] 1 (A)Filled with the holy Spirit,[b] Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert 2 for forty days,[c] to be tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they were over he was hungry.(B) 3 The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”(C) 5 Then he took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a single instant. 6 The devil said to him, “I shall give to you all this power and their glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish.(D) 7 All this will be yours, if you worship me.” 8 Jesus said to him in reply, “It is written:
‘You shall worship the Lord, your God,
and him alone shall you serve.’”(E)
9 [d]Then he led him to Jerusalem, made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 10 for it is written:
‘He will command his angels concerning you,
to guard you,’(F)
11 and:
‘With their hands they will support you,
lest you dash your foot against a stone.’”(G)
12 Jesus said to him in reply, “It also says, ‘You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.’”(H) 13 [e]When the devil had finished every temptation,(I) he departed from him for a time.
IV. The Ministry in Galilee
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. 14 (J)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread[f] throughout the whole region.(K) 15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
The Rejection at Nazareth.[g](L) 16 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom[h] into the synagogue on the sabbath day. He stood up to read 17 and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,[i]
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.(M)
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”
20 Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. 21 He said to them, “Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”[j] 22 And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?”(N) 23 He said to them, “Surely you will quote me this proverb, ‘Physician, cure yourself,’ and say, ‘Do here in your native place the things that we heard were done in Capernaum.’”[k] 24 And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. 25 [l]Indeed, I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah when the sky was closed for three and a half years and a severe famine spread over the entire land.(O) 26 [m]It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath(P) in the land of Sidon. 27 Again, there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet; yet not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”(Q) 28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were all filled with fury. 29 They rose up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town had been built, to hurl him down headlong. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went away.
The Cure of a Demoniac. 31 [n]Jesus then went down to Capernaum,(R) a town of Galilee.(S) He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.(T) 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,(U) and he cried out in a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?[o] I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(V) 35 Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down in front of them and came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and said to one another, “What is there about his word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region.
The Cure of Simon’s Mother-in-Law. 38 (W)After he left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon.[p] Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. 39 He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.
Other Healings.(X) 40 At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. 41 [q]And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.”(Y) But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Messiah.
Jesus Leaves Capernaum.(Z) 42 [r]At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place. The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. 43 But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.”(AA) 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.[s]
Footnotes
- 4:1–13 See note on Mt 4:1–11.
- 4:1 Filled with the holy Spirit: as a result of the descent of the Spirit upon him at his baptism (Lk 3:21–22), Jesus is now equipped to overcome the devil. Just as the Spirit is prominent at this early stage of Jesus’ ministry (Lk 4:1, 14, 18), so too it will be at the beginning of the period of the church in Acts (Acts 1:4; 2:4, 17).
- 4:2 For forty days: the mention of forty days recalls the forty years of the wilderness wanderings of the Israelites during the Exodus (Dt 8:2).
- 4:9 To Jerusalem: the Lucan order of the temptations concludes on the parapet of the temple in Jerusalem, the city of destiny in Luke-Acts. It is in Jerusalem that Jesus will ultimately face his destiny (Lk 9:51; 13:33).
- 4:13 For a time: the devil’s opportune time will occur before the passion and death of Jesus (Lk 22:3, 31–32, 53).
- 4:14 News of him spread: a Lucan theme; see Lk 4:37; 5:15; 7:17.
- 4:16–30 Luke has transposed to the beginning of Jesus’ ministry an incident from his Marcan source, which situated it near the end of the Galilean ministry (Mk 6:1–6a). In doing so, Luke turns the initial admiration (Lk 4:22) and subsequent rejection of Jesus (Lk 4:28–29) into a foreshadowing of the whole future ministry of Jesus. Moreover, the rejection of Jesus in his own hometown hints at the greater rejection of him by Israel (Acts 13:46).
- 4:16 According to his custom: Jesus’ practice of regularly attending synagogue is carried on by the early Christians’ practice of meeting in the temple (Acts 2:46; 3:1; 5:12).
- 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me: see note on Lk 3:21–22. As this incident develops, Jesus is portrayed as a prophet whose ministry is compared to that of the prophets Elijah and Elisha. Prophetic anointings are known in first-century Palestinian Judaism from the Qumran literature that speaks of prophets as God’s anointed ones. To bring glad tidings to the poor: more than any other gospel writer Luke is concerned with Jesus’ attitude toward the economically and socially poor (see Lk 6:20, 24; 12:16–21; 14:12–14; 16:19–26; 19:8). At times, the poor in Luke’s gospel are associated with the downtrodden, the oppressed and afflicted, the forgotten and the neglected (Lk 4:18; 6:20–22; 7:22; 14:12–14), and it is they who accept Jesus’ message of salvation.
- 4:21 Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing: this sermon inaugurates the time of fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. Luke presents the ministry of Jesus as fulfilling Old Testament hopes and expectations (Lk 7:22); for Luke, even Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection are done in fulfillment of the scriptures (Lk 24:25–27, 44–46; Acts 3:18).
- 4:23 The things that we heard were done in Capernaum: Luke’s source for this incident reveals an awareness of an earlier ministry of Jesus in Capernaum that Luke has not yet made use of because of his transposition of this Nazareth episode to the beginning of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. It is possible that by use of the future tense you will quote me…, Jesus is being portrayed as a prophet.
- 4:25–26 The references to Elijah and Elisha serve several purposes in this episode: they emphasize Luke’s portrait of Jesus as a prophet like Elijah and Elisha; they help to explain why the initial admiration of the people turns to rejection; and they provide the scriptural justification for the future Christian mission to the Gentiles.
- 4:26 A widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon: like Naaman the Syrian in Lk 4:27, a non-Israelite becomes the object of the prophet’s ministry.
- 4:31–44 The next several incidents in Jesus’ ministry take place in Capernaum and are based on Luke’s source, Mk 1:21–39. To the previous portrait of Jesus as prophet (Lk 4:16–30) they now add a presentation of him as teacher (Lk 4:31–32), exorcist (Lk 4:32–37, 41), healer (Lk 4:38–40), and proclaimer of God’s kingdom (Lk 4:43).
- 4:34 What have you to do with us?: see note on Jn 2:4. Have you come to destroy us?: the question reflects the current belief that before the day of the Lord control over humanity would be wrested from the evil spirits, evil destroyed, and God’s authority over humanity reestablished. The synoptic gospel tradition presents Jesus carrying out this task.
- 4:38 The house of Simon: because of Luke’s arrangement of material, the reader has not yet been introduced to Simon (cf. Mk 1:16–18, 29–31). Situated as it is before the call of Simon (Lk 5:1–11), it helps the reader to understand Simon’s eagerness to do what Jesus says (Lk 5:5) and to follow him (Lk 5:11).
- 4:41 They knew that he was the Messiah: that is, the Christ (see note on Lk 2:11).
- 4:42 They tried to prevent him from leaving them: the reaction of these strangers in Capernaum is presented in contrast to the reactions of those in his hometown who rejected him (Lk 4:28–30).
- 4:44 In the synagogues of Judea: instead of Judea, which is the best reading of the manuscript tradition, the Byzantine text tradition and other manuscripts read “Galilee,” a reading that harmonizes Luke with Mt 4:23 and Mk 1:39. Up to this point Luke has spoken only of a ministry of Jesus in Galilee. Luke may be using Judea to refer to the land of Israel, the territory of the Jews, and not to a specific portion of it.
Lucas 4
La Biblia de las Américas
Jesús es tentado
4 (A)Jesús, lleno del Espíritu Santo, volvió del Jordán(B) y fue llevado por el[a] Espíritu en el desierto 2 por cuarenta días, siendo tentado por el diablo. Y no comió nada durante esos días(C), pasados los cuales tuvo hambre. 3 Entonces el diablo le dijo: Si eres Hijo de Dios, di a esta piedra que se convierta en pan. 4 Jesús le respondió: Escrito está: «No solo de pan vivirá el hombre(D)». 5 Llevándole a una altura(E), el diablo le mostró en un instante todos los reinos del mundo[b](F). 6 Y el diablo le dijo: Todo este dominio y su gloria te daré; pues a mí me ha sido entregado(G), y a quien quiero se lo doy. 7 Por tanto, si te postras[c] delante de mí, todo será tuyo. 8 Respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Escrito está: «Al Señor tu Dios adorarás, y a Él solo servirás(H)». 9 Entonces el diablo le llevó a Jerusalén y le puso sobre el pináculo del templo, y le dijo: Si eres Hijo de Dios, lánzate abajo desde aquí(I), 10 pues escrito está:
«A sus Ángeles te encomendará para que te guarden(J)»,
11 y:
«en las manos te llevarán,
no sea que tu pie tropiece en piedra(K)».
12 Respondiendo Jesús, le dijo: Se ha dicho: «No tentaras[d] al Señor tu Dios(L)».
13 Cuando el diablo hubo acabado toda tentación, se alejó de Él esperando[e] un tiempo oportuno.
Ministerio en Galilea
14 Jesús regresó a Galilea(M) en el poder del Espíritu, y las nuevas[f] acerca de Él se divulgaron por toda aquella comarca(N). 15 Y enseñaba en sus sinagogas(O), siendo alabado por todos.
Jesús en Nazaret
16 Llegó a Nazaret, donde se había criado(P), y según su costumbre, entró en la sinagoga(Q) el día de reposo, y se levantó a leer(R). 17 Le dieron el libro[g] del profeta Isaías, y abriendo el libro[h], halló el lugar donde estaba escrito:
18 El Espíritu del Señor está sobre mí,
porque me ha ungido para anunciar el evangelio a los pobres.
Me ha enviado[i] para proclamar libertad a los cautivos,
y la recuperación de la vista a los ciegos;
para poner en libertad a los oprimidos(S);
19 para proclamar el año favorable del Señor(T).
20 Cerrando el libro[j](U), lo devolvió al asistente y se sentó(V); y los ojos de todos en la sinagoga estaban fijos en Él. 21 Y comenzó a decirles: Hoy se ha cumplido esta Escritura que habéis oído[k]. 22 Y todos hablaban bien[l] de Él y se maravillaban de las palabras llenas de gracia que salían de su boca, y decían: ¿No es este el hijo de José(W)? 23 Entonces Él les dijo: Sin duda me citaréis este refrán: «Médico, cúrate a ti mismo»; esto es, todo lo que oímos que se ha hecho en Capernaúm(X), hazlo también aquí en tu tierra(Y). 24 Y dijo: En verdad os digo, que ningún profeta es bien recibido en su propia tierra(Z). 25 Pero en verdad os digo: muchas viudas había en Israel en los días de Elías, cuando el cielo fue cerrado por tres años y seis meses(AA) y cuando hubo gran hambre sobre toda la tierra; 26 y sin embargo, a ninguna de ellas fue enviado Elías, sino a una mujer viuda de Sarepta, en la tierra de Sidón(AB). 27 Y muchos leprosos había en Israel en tiempos del profeta Eliseo, pero ninguno de ellos fue limpiado, sino Naamán el sirio(AC). 28 Y todos en la sinagoga se llenaron de ira cuando oyeron estas cosas, 29 y levantándose, le echaron fuera de la ciudad(AD), y le llevaron hasta la cumbre del monte sobre el cual estaba edificada su ciudad para despeñarle. 30 Pero Él, pasando por en medio de ellos(AE), se fue.
Jesús enseña en Capernaúm
31 Y descendió a Capernaúm(AF), ciudad de Galilea. (AG)Y les enseñaba en los días de reposo; 32 y se admiraban de su enseñanza(AH) porque su mensaje[m] era con autoridad(AI). 33 Y estaba en la sinagoga un hombre poseído por el espíritu[n] de un demonio inmundo, y gritó a gran voz: 34 Déjanos ¿Qué tenemos que ver contigo[o](AJ), Jesús de Nazaret[p]? ¿Has venido a destruirnos? Yo sé quién eres: el Santo de Dios(AK). 35 Jesús entonces lo reprendió(AL), diciendo: ¡Cállate y sal de él! Y después que el demonio lo derribó en medio de ellos, salió de él sin hacerle ningún daño. 36 Y todos se quedaron asombrados[q], y discutían entre sí, diciendo: ¿Qué mensaje es este? Porque[r] con autoridad(AM) y poder manda a los espíritus inmundos y salen. 37 Y su fama[s] se divulgaba por todos los lugares de la región circunvecina(AN).
Jesús sana a la suegra de Simón y a muchos otros
38 (AO)Y levantándose, salió de la sinagoga y entró en casa de Simón. Y la suegra de Simón se hallaba sufriendo con una fiebre muy alta(AP), y le rogaron por ella. 39 E inclinándose sobre ella, reprendió(AQ) la fiebre, y la fiebre la dejó; y al instante ella se levantó y les servía.
40 (AR)Al ponerse el sol, todos los que tenían enfermos de diversas enfermedades(AS) se los llevaban a Él; y poniendo Él las manos(AT) sobre cada uno de ellos, los sanaba(AU). 41 También de muchos salían demonios, gritando y diciendo: ¡Tú eres el Hijo de Dios(AV)! Pero, reprendiéndolos(AW), no les permitía hablar, porque sabían que Él era el Cristo[t](AX).
Jesús recorre otras ciudades
42 (AY)Cuando se hizo de día, salió y se fue a un lugar solitario; y las multitudes le buscaban, y llegaron adonde Él estaba y procuraron detenerle para que no se separara de ellos. 43 Pero Él les dijo: También a las otras ciudades debo anunciar las buenas nuevas del reino de Dios, porque para esto(AZ) yo he sido enviado.
44 Y predicaba en las sinagogas de Judea[u](BA).
Footnotes
- Lucas 4:1 O, bajo la influencia del; lit., en el
- Lucas 4:5 Lit., de la tierra habitada
- Lucas 4:7 O, adoras
- Lucas 4:12 O, No pondrás a prueba
- Lucas 4:13 Lit., hasta
- Lucas 4:14 Lit., la fama
- Lucas 4:17 O, rollo
- Lucas 4:17 O, rollo
- Lucas 4:18 Algunos mss. agregan aquí: a sanar a los quebrantados de corazón
- Lucas 4:20 O, rollo
- Lucas 4:21 Lit., en vuestros oídos
- Lucas 4:22 O, testificaban
- Lucas 4:32 Lit., palabra
- Lucas 4:33 Lit., teniendo un espíritu
- Lucas 4:34 Lit., ¿Qué a nosotros y a ti
- Lucas 4:34 Lit., Jesús nazareno
- Lucas 4:36 Lit., Y el asombro vino sobre todos
- Lucas 4:36 O, ¿Qué es esta palabra que
- Lucas 4:37 Lit., el rumor acerca de Él
- Lucas 4:41 I.e., el Mesías
- Lucas 4:44 I.e., el país de los judíos (incluyendo a Galilea); algunos mss. dicen: de Galilea
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.
