Luke 9
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 9
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve on Mission.[a] 1 Calling the Twelve together, Jesus gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to cure diseases, 2 and he sent them forth to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking staff, nor sack, nor bread, nor money. Nor are you to have a second tunic. 4 Whatever house you enter, stay there until you depart from that area. 5 As for those who do not welcome you, when you leave that town shake the dust from your feet in testimony against them.” 6 Then they set forth and traveled from village to village, preaching the gospel and curing diseases everywhere.
John the Baptist, Herod, and Jesus.[b] 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was taking place, and he was perplexed because some people were saying that John had been raised from the dead, 8 others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that one of the ancient prophets had come back to life. 9 But Herod said, “John I beheaded. Then who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he was anxious to see him.
10 Jesus Feeds Five Thousand Men.[c] On their return, the apostles reported to Jesus what they had done. Then he took them along and withdrew privately to a town named Bethsaida. 11 When the people learned of this, they followed him. Jesus welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God. He also cured those who were in need of healing.
12 When evening was approaching, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Send the people away now so that they can go to the villages and farms in the area and obtain food and lodging, for we are in a deserted place.” 13 He replied, “Give them something to eat yourselves.” They said, “All we have are five loaves and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all these people.” 14 For there were present about five thousand men.
Then he instructed his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty.” 15 They did so and made them sit down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven and blessed and broke them and gave them to the disciples to distribute among the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied. Then they gathered up what was left over—twelve baskets of fragments.
18 Peter’s Confession That Jesus Is the Christ.[d]Once while Jesus was praying by himself, he asked his disciples who were standing close by, “Who do the people say that I am?” 19 They answered, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.” 20 “But you,” he said to them, “who do you say that I am?” Peter answered him: “The Christ of God.” 21 Thereupon he gave them strict orders and commanded them not to tell this to anyone.
22 Jesus Predicts His Passion. He then went on to say, “The Son of Man must endure great suffering, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day be raised.”
23 The Conditions of Discipleship.[e] Then he said to all who were with him, “Anyone who wishes to follow me must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow me. 24 For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself?
26 “If anyone is ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 Truly I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”
28 Jesus Is Transfigured.[f] About eight days after he had said this, Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up on a mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the appearance of his face underwent a change, and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 Suddenly, there were two men talking with him, Moses and Elijah, 31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which would come to pass in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake they beheld his glory and the two men standing beside him.
33 When they were ready to leave, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us make three tents—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not truly know what he was saying. 34 While he was speaking, a cloud came and cast its shadow over them, and the three disciples became frightened as they entered the cloud. 35 Then a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One.[g] Listen to him.” 36 After the voice had spoken, they beheld only Jesus. They kept silent and at that time they did not tell anyone about what they had witnessed.
End of the Galilean Ministry
37 Jesus Heals a Boy with a Demon.[h] On the following day, when they descended from the mountain, a large crowd came forth to meet him. 38 Then, suddenly, a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I implore you to look at my son. He is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and with a shriek suddenly throws him into convulsions until he begins to foam at the mouth. It hardly ever leaves him, continuously torturing him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.”
41 Jesus said in reply, “O unbelieving and perverse generation! How much longer shall I remain with you and have to endure you? Bring your son here!” 42 As the boy was approaching him, the demon threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. 43 And all those present were awestruck at the greatness of God.
Jesus Predicts His Passion a Second Time.[i] Amid the astonishment of the crowds at everything he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, 44 “Listen carefully to these words. The Son of Man is going to be handed over into the power of men.” 45 But they did not understand what he was saying. Its meaning was hidden from them so that they could not comprehend his message, and they were afraid to ask him what he meant.
46 True Greatness.[j] The disciples then began to argue about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus, aware of their inner thoughts, took a child, placed him by his side, 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me; and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”
49 Whoever Is Not against You Is with You.[k] John then said, “Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we forbade him because he is not with us.” 50 Jesus replied, “Do not hinder him! For whoever is not against you is with you.”
The Journey to Jerusalem[l]
The Departure
51 Passing through Samaria.[m] As the time drew near for him to be taken up, Jesus resolutely set his sights on Jerusalem, 52 and he sent messengers ahead of him. They entered a Samaritan village to make arrangements for his arrival, 53 but the people there would not receive him because his destination was Jerusalem. 54 When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”[n] 55 But Jesus turned and rebuked them. 56 Then they journeyed forth to another village.
57 The Cost of Following Jesus.[o] As they traveled along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 Jesus told him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”
59 To another he said, “Follow me.” The man replied, “Lord, allow me to go first and bury my father.” 60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You are to go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”
61 Another man said, “I will follow you, Lord, but allow me first to say farewell to my family at home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Footnotes
- Luke 9:1 The Twelve are to share the mission of Jesus, to announce and attest the coming of salvation. Like their Lord, the apostles of the kingdom must be disinterested and conscious of the grave importance of the Gospel. They will accept hospitality simply and without consideration of personal interest. It is by clearly dissociating themselves from incredulity that they will announce the judgment that is coming (see Acts 13:51; 18:5).
- Luke 9:7 People speak of the return of Elijah as a precursor of the day of the Lord (Mal 3:23). They have known John. Now Jesus’ renown reaches the palace of the prince whom he will encounter in the course of his Passion (see Lk 23:7-12). The murderer of John evinces an idle curiosity. The action of Jesus compels each of us to ask ourselves: What do we say of Jesus?
- Luke 9:10 The preaching of Jesus so excites the crowd that they go so far as to disturb him in his retreat. He receives them and speaks to them about the kingdom of God. The miracle of the loaves is like a renewal of the prodigy of the manna expected at the time of the Messiah. In this account, Christians already discern the signs of the Eucharist: God nourishes his people. See also notes on Mt 14:13-21; 14:19; and 14:21; and Mk 6:43.
- Luke 9:18 At the opening of this passage, Jesus is found in prayer—thus Luke underlines the importance of the moment. Christ invites the Twelve to declare themselves concerning who he is. Peter precedes the others—in the Gospel, Peter’s faith has a large role (see Lk 22:31-33)—in acknowledging Christ as God, that is, as the expected Messiah whose unity with God is astonishing. In order to avoid all ambiguity about himself, Jesus recommends secrecy and for the first time announces his Passion. Contrary to what people expect, the Messiah will not save his people by a popular or political uprising but by his Death and Resurrection. The title “Son of Man” suggests the Passion and announces a glorious coming on the last day.
- Luke 9:23 To believe in Christ is to strive to share the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. To do so it is necessary for each of us to go beyond ourselves and our egoism in the ordinary conditions of life. See the kingdom of God: this expression evokes the appearances of the risen Lord or the work of the Spirit in the primitive Church.
- Luke 9:28 In a vision on a mountain, three disciples behold, for one instant, the divine splendor of Jesus. Moses and Elijah, who announced God’s plan in the Law and the Prophets, attest that it will now be accomplished by the Passion, that “passage” of Jesus, which is the new “Exodus.” As formerly in the Exodus God manifested himself in the cloud, now through the one he designates as his Son, his Chosen One (see Isa 42:1; 49:7), he will give to all people the definitive liberation. The evangelist hardly explains the unfolding of this mysterious event. He gives us the shattering experience of Jesus’ inner life to prompt our faith in Christ: to hear this man is to hear God.
- Luke 9:35 My Chosen One: this is similar to a Palestinian Jewish title found in the literature of the Dead Sea Scrolls and to Isa 42:1.
- Luke 9:37 Returning to the people, Jesus resumes the struggle. In contrast with the lapse of the disciples, the Messiah manifests his sovereign power against all the forces that enchain us, of which the person afflicted with a demon is a striking example.
- Luke 9:43 Amid popular success, Jesus keeps his eyes fixed on his Passion, the decisive act of salvation. For the believers, as for the disciples, it remains difficult to accept the necessity of the cross.
- Luke 9:46 As a result of their lack of pretense, children are the beloved of God and become models for the believer (see Lk 18:15-17). We must share this regard of Christ for the little ones, even in the way of thinking and living.
- Luke 9:49 It is necessary to accept the initiative of all those who make use of the name of Christ.
- Luke 9:51 We are at a crossroads in the life of Christ: Jesus begins to go to Jerusalem where his mystery is to be accomplished. This journey will take him from Galilee to the Holy City. In this section, Luke brings together a part of the teaching of Jesus that the other evangelists do not have or that they give in very different contexts. In these ten chapters, we find some of the most moving words of Christ about the mercy of God.
- Luke 9:51 The Samaritans refused passage to Jewish pilgrims on their way to the temple in Jerusalem, because they did not give recognition to that sanctuary. The critical text says simply that Jesus “rebuked” the disciples (v. 55); some manuscripts have: “And he said, ‘You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy lives, but to save them.’ ”
- Luke 9:54 An allusion to 2 Ki 1:10-12.
- Luke 9:57 Jesus demands an unconditional commitment from those who hesitate. The preaching of the kingdom is of primary urgency. On its account, we are to renounce every possession and free ourselves from even the most sacred human attachments.
路加福音 9
Chinese Union Version Modern Punctuation (Simplified)
差遣十二门徒
9 耶稣叫齐了十二个门徒，给他们能力、权柄制伏一切的鬼，医治各样的病， 2 又差遣他们去宣传神国的道、医治病人， 3 对他们说：“行路的时候不要带拐杖和口袋，不要带食物和银子，也不要带两件褂子。 4 无论进哪一家，就住在那里，也从那里起行。 5 凡不接待你们的，你们离开那城的时候，要把脚上的尘土跺下去，见证他们的不是。” 6 门徒就出去，走遍各乡宣传福音，到处治病。
7 分封的王希律听见耶稣所做的一切事，就游移不定，因为有人说是约翰从死里复活， 8 又有人说是以利亚显现，还有人说是古时的一个先知又活了。 9 希律说：“约翰我已经斩了，这却是什么人，我竟听见他这样的事呢？”就想要见他。
给五千人吃饱
10 使徒回来，将所做的事告诉耶稣。耶稣就带他们暗暗地离开那里，往一座城去，那城名叫伯赛大。 11 但众人知道了，就跟着他去。耶稣便接待他们，对他们讲论神国的道，医治那些需医的人。 12 日头快要平西，十二个门徒来对他说：“请叫众人散开，他们好往四面乡村里去借宿找吃的，因为我们这里是野地。” 13 耶稣说：“你们给他们吃吧！”门徒说：“我们不过有五个饼、两条鱼，若不去为这许多人买食物就不够。” 14 那时人数约有五千。耶稣对门徒说：“叫他们一排一排地坐下，每排大约五十个人。” 15 门徒就如此行，叫众人都坐下。 16 耶稣拿着这五个饼、两条鱼，望着天祝福，掰开，递给门徒，摆在众人面前。 17 他们就吃，并且都吃饱了。把剩下的零碎收拾起来，装满了十二篮子。
认耶稣为基督
18 耶稣自己祷告的时候，门徒也同他在那里。耶稣问他们说：“众人说我是谁？” 19 他们说：“有人说是施洗的约翰，有人说是以利亚，还有人说是古时的一个先知又活了。” 20 耶稣说：“你们说我是谁？”彼得回答说：“是神所立的基督。” 21 耶稣切切地嘱咐他们，不可将这事告诉人。
预言受难
22 又说：“人子必须受许多的苦，被长老、祭司长和文士弃绝，并且被杀，第三日复活。”
当背十架跟从主
23 耶稣又对众人说：“若有人要跟从我，就当舍己，天天背起他的十字架来跟从我。 24 因为凡要救自己生命[a]的，必丧掉生命；凡为我丧掉生命的，必救了生命。 25 人若赚得全世界，却丧了自己、赔上自己，有什么益处呢？ 26 凡把我和我的道当做可耻的，人子在自己的荣耀里，并天父与圣天使的荣耀里降临的时候，也要把那人当做可耻的。 27 我实在告诉你们：站在这里的，有人在没尝死味以前，必看见神的国。”
改变相貌
28 说了这话以后约有八天，耶稣带着彼得、约翰、雅各上山去祷告。 29 正祷告的时候，他的面貌就改变了，衣服洁白放光。 30 忽然，有摩西、以利亚两个人同耶稣说话， 31 他们在荣光里显现，谈论耶稣去世的事，就是他在耶路撒冷将要成的事。 32 彼得和他的同伴都打盹，既清醒了，就看见耶稣的荣光，并同他站着的那两个人。 33 二人正要和耶稣分离的时候，彼得对耶稣说：“夫子，我们在这里真好！可以搭三座棚：一座为你，一座为摩西，一座为以利亚。”他却不知道所说的是什么。 34 说这话的时候，有一朵云彩来遮盖他们。他们进入云彩里就惧怕。 35 有声音从云彩里出来，说：“这是我的儿子，我所拣选的[b]，你们要听他！” 36 声音住了，只见耶稣一人在那里。当那些日子，门徒不提所看见的事，一样也不告诉人。
害癫痫病的孩子
37 第二天，他们下了山，就有许多人迎见耶稣。 38 其中有一人喊叫说：“夫子！求你看顾我的儿子，因为他是我的独生子。 39 他被鬼抓住就忽然喊叫，鬼又叫他抽风，口中流沫，并且重重地伤害他，难以离开他。 40 我求过你的门徒把鬼赶出去，他们却是不能。” 41 耶稣说：“唉！这又不信又悖谬的世代啊，我在你们这里，忍耐你们要到几时呢？将你的儿子带到这里来吧！” 42 正来的时候，鬼把他摔倒，叫他重重地抽风。耶稣就斥责那污鬼，把孩子治好了，交给他父亲。 43 众人都诧异神的大能[c]。
人子将要被交
耶稣所做的一切事，众人正稀奇的时候，耶稣对门徒说： 44 “你们要把这些话存在耳中，因为人子将要被交在人手里。” 45 他们不明白这话，意思乃是隐藏的，叫他们不能明白，他们也不敢问这话的意思。
议论谁将为大
46 门徒中间起了议论：谁将为大。 47 耶稣看出他们心中的议论，就领一个小孩子来，叫他站在自己旁边， 48 对他们说：“凡为我名接待这小孩子的，就是接待我；凡接待我的，就是接待那差我来的。你们中间最小的，他便为大。”
49 约翰说：“夫子，我们看见一个人奉你的名赶鬼，我们就禁止他，因为他不与我们一同跟从你。” 50 耶稣说：“不要禁止他，因为不敌挡你们的，就是帮助你们的。”
撒马利亚人不接待主
51 耶稣被接上升的日子将到，他就定意向耶路撒冷去， 52 便打发使者在他前头走。他们到了撒马利亚的一个村庄，要为他预备。 53 那里的人不接待他，因他面向耶路撒冷去。 54 他的门徒雅各、约翰看见了，就说：“主啊，你要我们吩咐火从天上降下来烧灭他们，像以利亚所做的[d]吗？” 55 耶稣转身责备两个门徒，说：“你们的心如何，你们并不知道。 56 人子来不是要灭人的性命[e]，是要救人的性命。”说着就往别的村庄去了。[f]
57 他们走路的时候，有一人对耶稣说：“你无论往哪里去，我要跟从你。” 58 耶稣说：“狐狸有洞，天空的飞鸟有窝，只是人子没有枕头的地方。” 59 又对一个人说：“跟从我来！”那人说：“主，容我先回去埋葬我的父亲。” 60 耶稣说：“任凭死人埋葬他们的死人，你只管去传扬神国的道。” 61 又有一人说：“主，我要跟从你，但容我先去辞别我家里的人。” 62 耶稣说：“手扶着犁向后看的，不配进神的国。”
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative