In the previous chapter, Paul and Barnabas faced intense opposition in Iconium from both Jews and Gentiles who plotted to stone them. Learning of this threat, the apostles fled to Lystra and Derbe, cities in the region of Lycaonia, where they continued preaching the gospel. At Lystra, Paul healed a man who had been crippled from birth and unable to walk. When the crowds witnessed this miraculous healing, they became convinced that Paul and Barnabas were Greek gods—Zeus and Hermes—visiting them in human form. The priest of Zeus, whose temple stood outside the city, prepared to offer sacrifices to them with oxen and garlands. Paul and Barnabas were horrified by this idolatrous response and tore their clothes in distress, rushing into the crowd to stop the worship.
[7] And they were preaching the gospel there.
[8] And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. [9] This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, [10] said with a loud voice, “Stand up straight on your feet!” And he leaped and walked. [11] Now when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” [12] And Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. [13] Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes.
[14] But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this, they tore their clothes and ran in among the multitude, crying out [15] and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men with the same nature as you, and preach to you that you should turn from these useless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and all things that are in them, [16] who in bygone generations allowed all nations to walk in their own ways. [17] Nevertheless He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good, gave us rain from heaven and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness.”
The religious leaders have been increasingly hostile toward Jesus, criticizing His disciples for picking grain on the Sabbath and questioning His authority to forgive sins. Jesus has just healed on the Sabbath in a synagogue, restoring a man's withered hand, which further inflamed the Pharisees who began plotting how they might destroy Him. After this confrontation, Jesus withdrew from the area and continued His healing ministry among the crowds who followed Him, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about the Servant who would not quarrel or cry out in the streets. The Pharisees have been watching Jesus closely, seeking grounds to accuse Him of breaking their Sabbath traditions and challenging His growing influence among the people. The tension between Jesus and the religious establishment has reached a critical point as they struggle to explain His miraculous works while refusing to acknowledge His divine authority.
[22] Then one was brought to Him who was demon-possessed, blind and mute; and He healed him, so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. [23] And all the multitudes were amazed and said, “Could this be the Son of David?”
[24] Now when the Pharisees heard it they said, “This fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons.”
[25] But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. [26] If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? [27] And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. [28] But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. [29] Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. [30] He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.
[31] “Therefore I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. [32] Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
[33] “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. [34] Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [35] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. [36] But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. [37] For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
As Jesus' ministry in Galilee draws to a close, He resolutely sets His face toward Jerusalem, fully aware that His time of suffering and crucifixion approaches. This marks a pivotal transition in Luke's Gospel as Jesus begins His final journey to the holy city. Along the way, He sends messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for His arrival, but the villagers refuse to welcome Him because He is heading to Jerusalem, reflecting the deep-seated hostility between Jews and Samaritans. James and John, witnessing this rejection, react with indignation and ask Jesus if they should call down fire from heaven to destroy the village. Jesus rebukes His disciples for their vengeful attitude and simply moves on to another village. As they continue traveling, several individuals approach Jesus expressing interest in following Him, prompting Jesus to teach about the radical commitment required of His disciples.
[51] Now it came to pass, when the time had come for Him to be received up, that He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem, [52] and sent messengers before His face. And as they went, they entered a village of the Samaritans, to prepare for Him. [53] But they did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. [54] And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did?”
[55] But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. [56] For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them. ” And they went to another village.
[57] Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, “Lord, I will follow You wherever You go.”
[58] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
[59] Then He said to another, “Follow Me.”
But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
[60] Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
[61] And another also said, “Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.”
[62] But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Peter writes to believers who have received faith through God's righteousness, encouraging them to grow in Christian virtues and knowledge of Jesus Christ. He emphasizes the reliability of the apostolic witness and the certainty of Christ's return, having previously warned against false teachers who will arise. Peter expresses his intention to continually remind his readers of these truths while he is still alive, knowing that his death is approaching soon as the Lord Jesus has revealed to him. He wants to ensure that after his departure, believers will always be able to recall these essential teachings. Peter is addressing Christian communities, likely in Asia Minor, who are facing challenges to their faith.
[12] For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. [13] Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, [14] knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. [15] Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
[16] For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty. [17] For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” [18] And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.
[19] And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts;
Jesus has been ministering in Jerusalem during a feast, where he healed a paralyzed man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath, sparking controversy with Jewish leaders who questioned his authority and sought to kill him for claiming equality with God. After defending his divine mission and identity through extensive teaching about his relationship with the Father and the testimony of John the Baptist, Moses, and the Scriptures themselves, Jesus departs from Jerusalem and crosses to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee. Large crowds continue following him because they have witnessed the miraculous signs he has been performing on the sick, and as Passover approaches, Jesus goes up on a mountainside with his disciples where the multitude gathers around them.
[1] After these things Jesus went over the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberias. [2] Then a great multitude followed Him, because they saw His signs which He performed on those who were diseased. [3] And Jesus went up on the mountain, and there He sat with His disciples.
[4] Now the Passover, a feast of the Jews, was near. [5] Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” [6] But this He said to test him, for He Himself knew what He would do.
[7] Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may have a little.”
[8] One of His disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to Him, [9] “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two small fish, but what are they among so many?”
[10] Then Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. [11] And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted. [12] So when they were filled, He said to His disciples, “Gather up the fragments that remain, so that nothing is lost.” [13] Therefore they gathered them up, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves which were left over by those who had eaten. [14] Then those men, when they had seen the sign that Jesus did, said, “This is truly the Prophet who is to come into the world.”
Jesus has returned by boat to the western shore of the Sea of Galilee after delivering a demon-possessed man in the region of the Gerasenes. Large crowds gather around him as he arrives at the lakeside. A synagogue leader named Jairus approaches Jesus and falls at his feet, desperately pleading for him to come heal his twelve-year-old daughter who is dying. Jesus agrees and begins traveling with Jairus toward his house, accompanied by a pressing crowd. During this journey, a woman who has suffered from chronic bleeding for twelve years secretly touches Jesus' garment, seeking healing without drawing attention to herself.
[21] Now when Jesus had crossed over again by boat to the other side, a great multitude gathered to Him; and He was by the sea. [22] And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet [23] and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.” [24] So Jesus went with him, and a great multitude followed Him and thronged Him.
[25] Now a certain woman had a flow of blood for twelve years, [26] and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse. [27] When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. [28] For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
[29] Immediately the fountain of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of the affliction. [30] And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that power had gone out of Him, turned around in the crowd and said, “Who touched My clothes?”
[31] But His disciples said to Him, “You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ”
[32] And He looked around to see her who had done this thing. [33] But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth. [34] And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”