Jesus has completed delivering the Sermon on the Plain to his disciples and a large crowd of people from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon. During this sermon, he taught about blessings and woes, loving enemies, judging others, and building one's life on a solid foundation by hearing and acting on his words. The crowd has witnessed Jesus healing many people of diseases, plagues, and evil spirits. Now Jesus enters Capernaum, a significant base for his Galilean ministry, where a Roman centurion seeks his help for a valued servant who is gravely ill and near death.
[1] Now when He concluded all His sayings in the hearing of the people, He entered Capernaum. [2] And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. [3] So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. [4] And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, [5] “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
[6] Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. [7] Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. [8] For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
[9] When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” [10] And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick.
Jesus has been ministering throughout Galilee, teaching in synagogues, healing the sick, and casting out demons, which has attracted large crowds from various regions. The religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees, have begun to oppose him, even plotting his destruction after he healed a man on the Sabbath. Despite growing hostility from the authorities, Jesus continues his ministry by the Sea of Galilee, where multitudes press upon him seeking healing. He instructs his disciples to keep a boat ready due to the crushing crowds. After healing many and commanding unclean spirits not to reveal his identity, Jesus withdraws to a mountain to select his closest followers for a special purpose.
[13] And He went up on the mountain and called to Him those He Himself wanted. And they came to Him. [14] Then He appointed twelve, that they might be with Him and that He might send them out to preach, [15] and to have power to heal sicknesses and to cast out demons: [16] Simon, to whom He gave the name Peter; [17] James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James, to whom He gave the name Boanerges, that is, “Sons of Thunder”; [18] Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Cananite; [19] and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. And they went into a house.
Peter travels throughout Judea visiting believers after the persecution that scattered the church from Jerusalem. He has been moving through the region strengthening the disciples and demonstrating the power of the gospel through miraculous signs. The early church continues to grow despite opposition, and the apostles actively minister to both Jewish believers and those interested in the faith. Peter's journey brings him to various towns where he encounters people in need of healing and spiritual encouragement. The church in Jerusalem has sent out apostles to confirm and support the new believers who have emerged in different locations following the initial dispersion of Christians.
[32] Now it came to pass, as Peter went through all parts of the country, that he also came down to the saints who dwelt in Lydda. [33] There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden eight years and was paralyzed. [34] And Peter said to him, “Aeneas, Jesus the Christ heals you. Arise and make your bed.” Then he arose immediately. [35] So all who dwelt at Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord.
[36] At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas. This woman was full of good works and charitable deeds which she did. [37] But it happened in those days that she became sick and died. When they had washed her, they laid her in an upper room. [38] And since Lydda was near Joppa, and the disciples had heard that Peter was there, they sent two men to him, imploring him not to delay in coming to them. [39] Then Peter arose and went with them. When he had come, they brought him to the upper room. And all the widows stood by him weeping, showing the tunics and garments which Dorcas had made while she was with them. [40] But Peter put them all out, and knelt down and prayed. And turning to the body he said, “Tabitha, arise.” And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. [41] Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. [42] And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord. [43] So it was that he stayed many days in Joppa with Simon, a tanner.
Peter has been instructing believers about their new identity in Christ as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation called out of darkness into God's light. He has explained how they are living stones being built into a spiritual house, with Christ as the cornerstone that some reject but God has made precious. Peter has emphasized that though they were once not a people, they have now received mercy and become God's people. He transitions from discussing their spiritual identity to addressing their conduct as temporary residents in the world, urging them to abstain from fleshly desires that war against the soul and to maintain honorable behavior among unbelievers.
[11] Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, [12] having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
[13] Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, [14] or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. [15] For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— [16] as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. [17] Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
Jesus has just finished explaining spiritual rebirth to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who came to him at night. Nicodemus struggled to understand how someone could be born again, and Jesus challenged him for being a teacher of Israel yet not grasping these spiritual truths. Jesus contrasted earthly things with heavenly things, emphasizing that Nicodemus must believe his testimony about spiritual realities. Jesus has been explaining that entering God's kingdom requires being born of water and the Spirit, not merely physical descent from Abraham. The conversation has moved from Nicodemus's initial acknowledgment of Jesus as a teacher from God to Jesus revealing deeper truths about salvation and eternal life. Jesus is addressing Nicodemus.
[13] No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. [16] For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. [17] For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
[18] “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. [19] And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. [21] But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
Jesus has been demonstrating his authority through miraculous healings and teaching in Galilee, including healing a paralytic and forgiving his sins, which prompted criticism from religious leaders who questioned his authority to forgive sins. He has also been calling disciples to follow him and performing various miracles that display both his compassion for the suffering and his divine power. The religious establishment, particularly the Pharisees, has begun to scrutinize Jesus's actions and teachings, setting the stage for ongoing tension between Jesus and the traditional religious authorities. His ministry has attracted large crowds and generated both wonder and controversy as he moves throughout the region teaching and healing.
[9] As Jesus passed on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, “Follow Me.” So he arose and followed Him.
[10] Now it happened, as Jesus sat at the table in the house, that behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Him and His disciples. [11] And when the Pharisees saw it, they said to His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”
[12] When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. [13] But go and learn what this means:‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice.’ For I did not come to call the righteous,but sinners, to repentance.”
[14] Then the disciples of John came to Him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but Your disciples do not fast?”
[15] And Jesus said to them, “Canthe friends of the bridegroom mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, andthen they will fast. [16] No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. [17] Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”