Luke 9
New Testament for Everyone
The Twelve sent out and the feeding of the five thousand
9 Jesus called together the Twelve, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. 2 He sent them out to announce God’s kingdom and cure the sick.
3 “Don’t take anything for the journey,” he said to them, “no stick, no bag, no bread, no money, no second cloak. 4 Whenever you go into a house, stay there and leave from there. 5 If anyone won’t receive you, go out of that town and wipe the dust off your feet as evidence against them.”
6 So off they went, and traveled through the villages, announcing the good news and healing people everywhere.
7 Herod the Tetrarch heard what was going on, and was very puzzled. Some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead. 8 Others were saying that Elijah had appeared; still others, that one of the old prophets had arisen.
9 “I beheaded John,” said Herod, “but I keep hearing all these things about this other fellow. Who is he?” And he tried to get to see him.
10 The apostles returned and told Jesus what they had done. He took them off and went away privately to a town called Bethsaida. 11 When the crowds discovered, they followed him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and he healed those who needed it.
12 As the day wore on, the Twelve came to Jesus.
“Send the crowd away,” they said, “so that they can go into the villages and countryside nearby, find somewhere to stay, and get something to eat. We’re in quite a lonely spot here.”
13 “You give them something to eat,” he replied.
“All we’ve got here,” they said, “is five loaves and a couple of fishes—unless you mean we should go ourselves and buy food for all these people?” 14 (There were about five thousand men.)
“Get them to sit down,” Jesus said to them, “in groups of around fifty each.”
15 They did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Then Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up to heaven, blessed the food, divided it, and gave it to the disciples to pass around the crowd. 17 Everyone ate, and was satisfied. They took up twelve baskets of broken bits left over.
Peter’s declaration of Jesus’ messiahship
18 When Jesus was praying alone, his disciples gathered around him.
“Who do the crowds say I am?” he asked them.
19 “John the Baptist,” they responded. “And others say Elijah. Others say that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.”
20 “What about you?” said Jesus. “Who do you say I am?”
“God’s Messiah,” answered Peter.
21 He gave them strict and careful instructions not to tell this to anyone.
22 “The son of man,” he said, “must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, and the chief priests, and the legal experts. He must be killed, and raised up on the third day.”
23 He then spoke to them all. “If any of you want to come after me,” he said, “you must say no to yourselves, and pick up your cross every day, and follow me. 24 If you want to save your life, you’ll lose it; but if you lose your life because of me, you’ll save it. 25 What good will it do you if you win the entire world, but lose or forfeit your own self? 26 If you’re ashamed of me and my words, the son of man will be ashamed of you, when he comes in the glory which belongs to him, and to the father, and to the holy angels.
27 “Let me tell you,” he concluded, “there are some standing here who won’t experience death until they see God’s kingdom.”
The transfiguration
28 About eight days after this conversation, Jesus took Peter, John and James and went up a mountain to pray. 29 And, as he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became shining white. 30 Two men appeared, talking with him: it was Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was going to fulfill in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but they managed to stay awake. They saw his glory, and the two men who were standing there with him.
33 As they were going away from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it’s wonderful for us to be here! Let’s make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!” He didn’t know what he was saying; 34 but as the words were coming out of his mouth a cloud appeared and overshadowed them. They were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 And a voice came from the cloud: “This is my son, my chosen one: listen to him.” 36 As the voice spoke, there was Jesus by himself. They kept silent, and told nobody at that time anything of what they had seen.
37 The next day, as they were going down from the mountain, a large crowd met them. 38 A man from the crowd shouted out, “Teacher! Please, please have a look at my son! He’s my only child, 39 and look what’s happening to him! A spirit seizes him, and suddenly it shrieks and convulses him, so that he foams at the mouth. It goes on savaging him, and it’s almost impossible to get it to leave him. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, but they couldn’t.”
41 “You faithless and depraved generation!” said Jesus in reply. “How long shall I be with you and have to put up with you? Bring your son here.”
42 While he was on the way, the demon tore at him and threw him into convulsions. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father. 43 Everyone was astonished at the greatness of God.
While they were all still expressing amazement at everything he had done, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Let these words go right down into your ears: the son of man is to be given over into human hands.” 45 They had no idea what he was talking about. It was hidden from them, so that they wouldn’t perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about what he had said.
The nature of discipleship
46 A dispute arose among them about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus knew this quarrel was going on in their hearts, so he took a child and stood it beside him.
48 “If you receive this child in my name,” he said, “you receive me. And anyone who receives me, receives the one who sent me. Whoever is the least among you—that’s the one who is great.”
49 “Master,” commented John, “we saw someone casting out demons in your name. We told him to stop, because he wasn’t part of our company.”
50 “Don’t stop him,” replied Jesus. “Anyone who isn’t against you is on your side.”
51 As the time came nearer for Jesus to be taken up, he settled it in his mind to go to Jerusalem. 52 He sent messengers ahead of him. They came into a Samaritan village to get them ready, 53 and they refused to receive him, because his mind was set on going to Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Master, do you want us to call down fire from heaven and burn them up?” 55 He turned and rebuked them, 56 and they went on to another village.
57 As they were going along the road a man addressed Jesus.
“Wherever you’re going,” he said, “I’ll follow you!”
58 “Foxes have lairs,” Jesus replied, “and the birds in the sky have nests; but the son of man doesn’t have anywhere to lay his head.”
59 To another person he said, “Follow me.”
“Master,” he replied, “let me first go and bury my father.”
60 “Let the dead bury their dead,” said Jesus. “You must go and announce God’s kingdom.”
61 “I will follow you, Master,” said another, “but first let me say goodbye to the people at home.”
62 “Nobody,” replied Jesus, “who begins to plow and then looks over his shoulder is fit for God’s kingdom.”
Luke 9
Holman Christian Standard Bible
Commissioning the Twelve
9 Summoning the Twelve,(A) He gave them power and authority over all the demons, and power to heal[a] diseases.(B) 2 Then He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.(C)
3 “Take nothing for the road,”(D) He told them, “no walking stick,(E) no traveling bag, no bread, no money; and don’t take an extra shirt. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there and leave from there. 5 If they do not welcome you, when you leave that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.”(F) 6 So they went out and traveled from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing everywhere.
Herod’s Desire to See Jesus
7 Herod the tetrarch(G) heard about everything that was going on.(H) He was perplexed, because some said that John had been raised from the dead, 8 some that Elijah had appeared,(I) and others that one of the ancient prophets had risen.(J) 9 “I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this I hear such things about?” And he wanted to see Him.(K)
Feeding 5,000
10 When the apostles returned,(L) they reported to Jesus all that they had done.(M) He took them along and withdrew privately to a[b] town called Bethsaida.(N) 11 When the crowds found out, they followed Him. He welcomed them,(O) spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and cured[c] those who needed healing.
12 Late in the day,[d](P) the Twelve approached and said to Him, “Send the crowd away,(Q) so they can go into the surrounding villages and countryside to find food and lodging, because we are in a deserted place here.”
13 “You give them something to eat,” He told them.
“We have no more than five loaves(R) and two fish,” they said, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 (For about 5,000 men were there.)
Then He told His disciples, “Have them sit down[e] in groups of about 50 each.” 15 They did so, and had them all sit down. 16 Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,(S) He blessed and broke them.(T) He kept giving them to the disciples to set before the crowd. 17 Everyone ate and was filled. Then they picked up[f] 12 baskets of leftover pieces.
Peter’s Confession of the Messiah
18 While He was praying in private(U) and His disciples were with Him, He asked them, “Who do the crowds say that I am?”
19 They answered, “John the Baptist; others, Elijah; still others, that one of the ancient prophets has come back.”[g](V)
20 “But you,” He asked them, “who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “God’s Messiah!”(W)
His Death and Resurrection Predicted
21 But He strictly warned and instructed them to tell this to no one,(X) 22 saying,(Y) “The Son of Man(Z) must suffer many things(AA) and be rejected(AB) by the elders, chief priests, and scribes,(AC) be killed, and be raised the third day.”(AD)
Take Up Your Cross
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to come with[h] Me, he must deny himself,(AE) take up his cross daily,[i] and follow Me.(AF) 24 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me will save it.(AG) 25 What is a man benefited if he gains the whole world, yet loses or forfeits himself?(AH) 26 For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words,(AI) the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory(AJ) and that of the Father and the holy angels.(AK) 27 I tell you the truth: There are some standing here who will not taste death(AL) until they see the kingdom of God.”(AM)
The Transfiguration
28 About eight days after these words,(AN) He took along Peter, John, and James(AO) and went up on the mountain to pray.(AP) 29 As He was praying, the appearance of His face changed,(AQ) and His clothes became dazzling white.(AR) 30 Suddenly, two men were talking with Him—Moses and Elijah. 31 They appeared in glory and were speaking of His death,[j] which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem.
32 Peter and those with him were in a deep sleep,[k](AS) and when they became fully awake, they saw His glory and the two men who were standing with Him. 33 As the two men were departing from Him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master,(AT) it’s good for us to be here! Let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”—not knowing what he said.(AU)
34 While he was saying this, a cloud appeared and overshadowed(AV) them. They became afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came from the cloud,(AW) saying:
36 After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was found. They kept silent, and in those days told no one what they had seen.
The Power of Faith over a Demon
37 The next day,(BA) when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met Him. 38 Just then a man from the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, because he’s my only child.(BB) 39 Often a spirit seizes him; suddenly he shrieks, and it throws him into convulsions until he foams at the mouth;[m] wounding[n] him, it hardly ever leaves him. 40 I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they couldn’t.”(BC)
41 Jesus replied, “You unbelieving and rebellious[o] generation!(BD) How long will I be with you and put up with you?(BE) Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy was still approaching, the demon knocked him down and threw him into severe convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy,(BF) and gave him back to his father.(BG) 43 And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.(BH)
The Second Prediction of His Death
While everyone was amazed at all the things He was doing,(BI) He told His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink in:[p] The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”(BJ)
45 But they did not understand this statement;(BK) it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it,(BL) and they were afraid to ask Him about it.[q]
Who Is the Greatest?
46 Then an argument started among them about who would be the greatest of them.(BM) 47 But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts,(BN) took a little child and had him stand next to Him. 48 He told them, “Whoever welcomes[r] this little child in My name welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me welcomes Him who sent Me.(BO) For whoever is least among you—this one is great.”(BP)
In His Name
49 John responded,(BQ) “Master, we saw someone driving out demons in Your name,(BR) and we tried to stop him because he does not follow us.”(BS)
50 “Don’t stop him,” Jesus told him, “because whoever is not against you is for you.”[s](BT)
The Journey to Jerusalem
51 When the days were coming to a close for Him to be taken up,[t](BU) He determined[u](BV) to journey to Jerusalem.(BW) 52 He sent messengers ahead of Him,(BX) and on the way they entered a village of the Samaritans(BY) to make preparations for Him. 53 But they did not welcome Him, because He determined to journey to Jerusalem.(BZ) 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”[v](CA)
55 But He turned and rebuked them,[w] 56 and they went to another village.
Following Jesus
57 As they were traveling on the road someone said to Him,(CB) “I will follow You wherever You go!”
58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have dens, and birds of the sky[x] have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59 Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
“Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”[y]
60 But He told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.”(CC)
61 Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to those at my house.”(CD)
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Footnotes
- Luke 9:1 In this passage, different Gk words are translated as heal. In Eng, “to heal” or “to cure” are synonyms with little distinction in meaning. Technically, we do not heal or cure diseases. People are healed or cured from diseases.
- Luke 9:10 Other mss add deserted place near a
- Luke 9:11 Or healed; in this passage, different Gk words are translated as heal. In Eng, “to heal” or “to cure” are synonyms with little distinction in meaning. Technically, we do not heal or cure diseases. People are healed or cured from diseases.
- Luke 9:12 Lit When the day began to decline
- Luke 9:14 Lit them recline
- Luke 9:17 Lit Then were picked up by them
- Luke 9:19 Lit has risen
- Luke 9:23 Lit come after
- Luke 9:23 Other mss omit daily
- Luke 9:31 Or departure; Gk exodus
- Luke 9:32 Lit were weighed down with sleep
- Luke 9:35 Other mss read the Beloved
- Luke 9:39 Lit convulsions with foam
- Luke 9:39 Or bruising, or mauling
- Luke 9:41 Or corrupt, or perverted, or twisted; Dt 32:5
- Luke 9:44 Lit Put these words in your ears
- Luke 9:45 Lit about this statement
- Luke 9:48 Or receives, throughout the verse
- Luke 9:50 Other mss read against us is for us
- Luke 9:51 His ascension
- Luke 9:51 Lit He stiffened His face to go; Is 50:7
- Luke 9:54 Other mss add as Elijah also did
- Luke 9:55 Other mss add and said, “You don’t know what kind of spirit you belong to. 56 For the Son of Man did not come to destroy people’s lives but to save them,”
- Luke 9:58 Wild birds, as opposed to domestic birds
- Luke 9:59 Not necessarily meaning his father was already dead
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.