Luke 4
New Century Version
Jesus Is Tempted by the Devil
4 Jesus, filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. The Spirit led Jesus into the desert 2 where the devil tempted Jesus for forty days. Jesus ate nothing during that time, and when those days were ended, he was very hungry.
3 The devil said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, tell this rock to become bread.”
4 Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘A person does not live on bread alone.’”[a]
5 Then the devil took Jesus and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in an instant. 6 The devil said to Jesus, “I will give you all these kingdoms and all their power and glory. It has all been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 7 If you worship me, then it will all be yours.”
8 Jesus answered, “It is written in the Scriptures: ‘You must worship the Lord your God and serve only him.’”[b]
9 Then the devil led Jesus to Jerusalem and put him on a high place of the Temple. He said to Jesus, “If you are the Son of God, jump down. 10 It is written in the Scriptures:
‘He has put his angels in charge of you
to watch over you.’ Psalm 91:11
11 It is also written:
‘They will catch you in their hands
so that you will not hit your foot on a rock.’” Psalm 91:12
12 Jesus answered, “But it also says in the Scriptures: ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’”[c]
13 After the devil had tempted Jesus in every way, he left him to wait until a better time.
Jesus Teaches the People
14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Holy Spirit, and stories about him spread all through the area. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 Jesus traveled to Nazareth, where he had grown up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue, as he always did, and stood up to read. 17 The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:
18 “The Lord has put his Spirit in me,
because he appointed me to tell the Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to tell the captives they are free
and to tell the blind that they can see again. Isaiah 61:1
God sent me to free those who have been treated unfairly Isaiah 58:6
19 and to announce the time when the Lord will show his kindness.” Isaiah 61:2
20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the assistant, and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue was watching Jesus closely. 21 He began to say to them, “While you heard these words just now, they were coming true!”
22 All the people spoke well of Jesus and were amazed at the words of grace he spoke. They asked, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”
23 Jesus said to them, “I know that you will tell me the old saying: ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ You want to say, ‘We heard about the things you did in Capernaum. Do those things here in your own town!’” 24 Then Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, a prophet is not accepted in his hometown. 25 But I tell you the truth, there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah. It did not rain in Israel for three and one-half years, and there was no food anywhere in the whole country. 26 But Elijah was sent to none of those widows, only to a widow in Zarephath, a town in Sidon. 27 And there were many with skin diseases living in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha. But none of them were healed, only Naaman, who was from the country of Syria.”
28 When all the people in the synagogue heard these things, they became very angry. 29 They got up, forced Jesus out of town, and took him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built. They planned to throw him off the edge, 30 but Jesus walked through the crowd and went on his way.
Jesus Forces Out an Evil Spirit
31 Jesus went to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and on the Sabbath day, he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue a man who had within him an evil spirit shouted in a loud voice, 34 “Jesus of Nazareth! What do you want with us? Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are—God’s Holy One!”
35 Jesus commanded the evil spirit, “Be quiet! Come out of the man!” The evil spirit threw the man down to the ground before all the people and then left the man without hurting him.
36 The people were amazed and said to each other, “What does this mean? With authority and power he commands evil spirits, and they come out.” 37 And so the news about Jesus spread to every place in the whole area.
Jesus Heals Many People
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon.[d] Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 He came to her side and commanded the fever to leave. It left her, and immediately she got up and began serving them.
40 When the sun went down, the people brought those who were sick to Jesus. Putting his hands on each sick person, he healed every one of them. 41 Demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But Jesus commanded the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew Jesus was the Christ.
42 At daybreak, Jesus went to a lonely place, but the people looked for him. When they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving. 43 But Jesus said to them, “I must preach about God’s kingdom to other towns, too. This is why I was sent.”
44 Then he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.[e]
Footnotes
- 4:4 ‘A person . . . alone.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 8:3.
- 4:8 ‘You . . . him.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 6:13.
- 4:12 ‘Do . . . God.’ Quotation from Deuteronomy 6:16.
- 4:38 Simon Simon’s other name was Peter.
- 4:44 Judea Some Greek copies read “Galilee.”
Luke 4
New King James Version
Satan Tempts Jesus(A)
4 Then (B)Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and (C)was led by the Spirit [a]into the wilderness, 2 being [b]tempted for forty days by the devil. And (D)in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry.
3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are (E)the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.”
4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, (F)‘Man shall not live by bread alone, [c]but by every word of God.’ ”
5 [d]Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for (G)this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”
8 And Jesus answered and said to him, [e]“Get behind Me, Satan! [f]For it is written, (H)‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”
9 (I)Then he brought Him to Jerusalem, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here. 10 For it is written:
(J)‘He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you,’
11 and,
(K)‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”
12 And Jesus answered and said to him, “It has been said, (L)‘You shall not [g]tempt the Lord your God.’ ”
13 Now when the devil had ended every [h]temptation, he departed from Him (M)until an opportune time.
Jesus Begins His Galilean Ministry(N)
14 (O)Then Jesus returned (P)in the power of the Spirit to (Q)Galilee, and (R)news of Him went out through all the surrounding region. 15 And He (S)taught in their synagogues, (T)being glorified by all.
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth(U)
16 So He came to (V)Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, (W)He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:
18 “The(X) Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me [i]to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To (Y)set at liberty those who are [j]oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is (Z)fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 So all bore witness to Him, and (AA)marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, (AB)“Is this not Joseph’s son?”
23 He said to them, “You will surely say this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in (AC)Capernaum,[k] do also here in (AD)Your country.’ ” 24 Then He said, “Assuredly, I say to you, no (AE)prophet is accepted in his own country. 25 But I tell you truly, (AF)many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; 26 but to none of them was Elijah sent except to [l]Zarephath, in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 (AG)And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
28 So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were (AH)filled with [m]wrath, 29 (AI)and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. 30 Then (AJ)passing through the midst of them, He went His way.
Jesus Casts Out an Unclean Spirit(AK)
31 Then (AL)He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were (AM)astonished at His teaching, (AN)for His word was with authority. 33 (AO)Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? (AP)I know who You are—(AQ)the Holy One of God!”
35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, [n]“Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.
Peter’s Mother-in-Law Healed(AR)
38 (AS)Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was [o]sick with a high fever, and they (AT)made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and (AU)rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.
Many Healed After Sabbath Sunset(AV)
40 (AW)When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 (AX)And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, (AY)“You are [p]the Christ, the Son of God!”
And He, (AZ)rebuking them, did not allow them to [q]speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee(BA)
42 (BB)Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; 43 but He said to them, “I must (BC)preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44 (BD)And He was preaching in the synagogues of [r]Galilee.
Footnotes
- Luke 4:1 NU in
- Luke 4:2 tested
- Luke 4:4 NU omits but by every word of God
- Luke 4:5 NU And taking Him up, he showed Him
- Luke 4:8 NU omits Get behind Me, Satan
- Luke 4:8 NU, M omit For
- Luke 4:12 test
- Luke 4:13 testing
- Luke 4:18 NU omits to heal the brokenhearted
- Luke 4:18 downtrodden
- Luke 4:23 NU Capharnaum, here and elsewhere
- Luke 4:26 Gr. Sarepta
- Luke 4:28 rage
- Luke 4:35 Lit. Be muzzled
- Luke 4:38 afflicted with
- Luke 4:41 NU omits the Christ
- Luke 4:41 Or say that they knew
- Luke 4:44 NU Judea
The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.