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Luke 4:14-37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Luke 4:14-37
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
IV. The Ministry in Galilee
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry. 14 (A)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news of him spread[a] throughout the whole region.(B) 15 He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
The Rejection at Nazareth.[b](C) 16 He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went according to his custom[c] 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,[d]
because he has anointed me
to bring glad tidings to the poor.(D)
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.”[e] 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?”(E) 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.’”[f] 24 And he said, “Amen, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own native place. 25 [g]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.(F) 26 [h]It was to none of these that Elijah was sent, but only to a widow in Zarephath(G) 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.”(H) 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 [i]Jesus then went down to Capernaum,(I) a town of Galilee.(J) He taught them on the sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.(K) 33 In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,(L) 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?[j] I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(M) 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.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 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.
Luke 4:14-37
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
Luke 4:14-37
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition
The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry
14 Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
The Rejection of Jesus at Nazareth
16 When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to let the oppressed go free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
20 And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 Then he began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?” 23 He said to them, “Doubtless you will quote to me this proverb, ‘Doctor, cure yourself!’ And you will say, ‘Do here also in your hometown the things that we have heard you did at Capernaum.’” 24 And he said, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in the prophet’s hometown. 25 But the truth is, there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a severe famine over all the land; 26 yet Elijah was sent to none of them except to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 27 There were also many lepers[a] in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 28 When they heard this, all in the synagogue were filled with rage. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they might hurl him off the cliff. 30 But he passed through the midst of them and went on his way.
The Man with an Unclean Spirit
31 He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the sabbath. 32 They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. 36 They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, “What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!” 37 And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 4:27 The terms leper and leprosy can refer to several diseases
Luke 4:14-37
Good News Translation
Luke 4:14-37
Good News Translation
Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee(A)
14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, and the power of the Holy Spirit was with him. The news about him spread throughout all that territory. 15 He taught in the synagogues and was praised by everyone.
Jesus Is Rejected at Nazareth(B)
16 Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures 17 and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,
18 (C)“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovery of sight to the blind,
to set free the oppressed
19 and announce that the time has come
when the Lord will save his people.”
20 Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 21 as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.”
22 They were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke. They said, “Isn't he the son of Joseph?”
23 He said to them, “I am sure that you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ You will also tell me to do here in my hometown the same things you heard were done in Capernaum. 24 (D)I tell you this,” Jesus added, “prophets are never welcomed in their hometown. 25 (E)Listen to me: it is true that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a severe famine spread throughout the whole land. 26 (F)Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. 27 (G)And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with anger. 29 They rose up, dragged Jesus out of town, and took him to the top of the hill on which their town was built. They meant to throw him over the cliff, 30 but he walked through the middle of the crowd and went his way.
A Man with an Evil Spirit(H)
31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, where he taught the people on the Sabbath. 32 (I)They were all amazed at the way he taught, because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue was a man who had the spirit of an evil demon in him; he screamed out in a loud voice, 34 “Ah! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are: you are God's holy messenger!”
35 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” The demon threw the man down in front of them and went out of him without doing him any harm.
36 The people were all amazed and said to one another, “What kind of words are these? With authority and power this man gives orders to the evil spirits, and they come out!” 37 And the report about Jesus spread everywhere in that region.
Read full chapter
Luke 4:14-37
New American Standard Bible
Luke 4:14-37
New American Standard Bible
Jesus’ Public Ministry
14 And (A)Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and (B)news about Him spread through all the surrounding region. 15 And He began (C)teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.
16 And He came to (D)Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, (E)He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and (F)stood up to read. 17 And the scroll of Isaiah the prophet was handed to Him. And He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18 “(G)The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He anointed Me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim release to captives,
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set free those who are oppressed,
19 (H)To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”
20 And He (I)rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and (J)sat down; and the eyes of all the people in the synagogue were intently directed at Him. 21 Now He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your [a]hearing.” 22 And all the people were [b]speaking well of Him, and admiring the [c]gracious words which were coming from His [d]lips; and yet they were saying, “(K)Is this not Joseph’s son?” 23 And He said to them, “No doubt you will [e]quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! All the miracles that we heard were done (L)in Capernaum, do here in (M)your hometown as well.’” 24 But He said, “Truly I say to you, (N)no prophet is welcome in his hometown. 25 But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel (O)in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a [f]severe famine came over all the land; 26 and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to [g](P)Zarephath, in the land of (Q)Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 27 And there were many with leprosy in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was [h]cleansed, but only (R)Naaman the Syrian.” 28 And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things; 29 and they got up and (S)drove Him out of the city, and brought Him to the [i]crest of the hill on which their city had been built, so that they could throw Him down from the cliff. 30 But He (T)passed through their midst and went on His way.
31 And (U)He came down to (V)Capernaum, a city of Galilee; and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and (W)they were amazed at His teaching, because (X)His [j]message was delivered with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man [k]possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! [l](Y)What business do You have with us, Jesus [m]of (Z)Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—(AA)the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus (AB)rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, it came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another, saying, “What is [n]this message? For (AC)with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And (AD)the news about Him was spreading into every locality of the surrounding region.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Luke 4:21 Lit ears
- Luke 4:22 Or testifying
- Luke 4:22 Lit words of grace
- Luke 4:22 Lit mouth
- Luke 4:23 Lit tell me this
- Luke 4:25 Lit great
- Luke 4:26 Gr Sarepta
- Luke 4:27 I.e., healed
- Luke 4:29 Lit brow
- Luke 4:32 Lit word
- Luke 4:33 Lit having a spirit
- Luke 4:34 Lit What to us and to you (an ancient idiom)
- Luke 4:34 Lit the Nazarene
- Luke 4:36 Or this word, that with authority...come out?
Luke 4:14-37
New International Version
Luke 4:14-37
New International Version
Jesus Rejected at Nazareth
14 Jesus returned to Galilee(A) in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.(B) 15 He was teaching in their synagogues,(C) and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth,(D) where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue,(E) as was his custom. He stood up to read,(F) 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,(G)
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news(H) to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[a](I)
20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.(J) The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled(K) in your hearing.”
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.(L)
23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown(M) what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”(N)
24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown.(O) 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land.(P) 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.(Q) 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[b] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”(R)
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town,(S) and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.(T)
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit(U)
31 Then he went down to Capernaum,(V) a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching,(W) because his words had authority.(X)
33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us,(Y) Jesus of Nazareth?(Z) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are(AA)—the Holy One of God!”(AB)
35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly.(AC) “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
36 All the people were amazed(AD) and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority(AE) and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.(AF)
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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