Discovery BoxLuke 4:1-39
Context4:1 Then 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River 2 and was led by the Spirit 3 in 4 the wilderness, 5 4:2 where for forty days he endured temptations 6 from the devil. He 7 ate nothing 8 during those days, and when they were completed, 9 he was famished. 4:3 The devil said to him, “If 10 you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 11 4:4 Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man 12 does not live by bread alone.’” 13
4:5 Then 14 the devil 15 led him up 16 to a high place 17 and showed him in a flash all the kingdoms of the world. 4:6 And he 18 said to him, “To you 19 I will grant this whole realm 20 – and the glory that goes along with it, 21 for it has been relinquished 22 to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. 4:7 So then, if 23 you will worship 24 me, all this will be 25 yours.” 4:8 Jesus 26 answered him, 27 “It is written, ‘You are to worship 28 the Lord 29 your God and serve only him.’” 30
4:9 Then 31 the devil 32 brought him to Jerusalem, 33 had him stand 34 on the highest point of the temple, 35 and said to him, “If 36 you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, 4:10 for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you,’ 37 4:11 and ‘with their hands they will lift you up, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’” 38 4:12 Jesus 39 answered him, 40 “It is said, ‘You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’” 41 4:13 So 42 when the devil 43 had completed every temptation, he departed from him until a more opportune time. 44
4:14 Then 45 Jesus, in the power of the Spirit, 46 returned to Galilee, and news about him spread 47 throughout the surrounding countryside. 48 4:15 He 49 began to teach 50 in their synagogues 51 and was praised 52 by all.
4:16 Now 53 Jesus 54 came to Nazareth, 55 where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue 56 on the Sabbath day, as was his custom. 57 He 58 stood up to read, 59 4:17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He 60 unrolled 61 the scroll and found the place where it was written,
4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed 62 me to proclaim good news 63 to the poor. 64
He has sent me 65 to proclaim release 66 to the captives
and the regaining of sight 67 to the blind,
to set free 68 those who are oppressed, 69
4:19 to proclaim the year 70 of the Lord’s favor.” 71
4:20 Then 72 he rolled up 73 the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on 74 him. 4:21 Then 75 he began to tell them, “Today 76 this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” 77 4:22 All 78 were speaking well of him, and were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. They 79 said, “Isn’t this 80 Joseph’s son?” 4:23 Jesus 81 said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ 82 and say, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, 83 do here in your hometown too.’” 4:24 And he added, 84 “I tell you the truth, 85 no prophet is acceptable 86 in his hometown. 4:25 But in truth I tell you, there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, 87 when the sky 88 was shut up three and a half years, and 89 there was a great famine over all the land. 4:26 Yet 90 Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. 91 4:27 And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, 92 yet 93 none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 94 4:28 When they heard this, all the people 95 in the synagogue were filled with rage. 4:29 They got up, forced 96 him out of the town, 97 and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that 98 they could throw him down the cliff. 99 4:30 But he passed through the crowd 100 and went on his way. 101
4:31 So 102 he went down to Capernaum, 103 a town 104 in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he began to teach the people. 105 4:32 They 106 were amazed 107 at his teaching, because he spoke 108 with authority. 109
4:33 Now 110 in the synagogue 111 there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean 112 demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 4:34 “Ha! Leave us alone, 113 Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One 114 of God.” 4:35 But 115 Jesus rebuked him: 116 “Silence! Come out of him!” 117 Then, after the demon threw the man 118 down in their midst, he came out of him without hurting him. 119 4:36 They 120 were all amazed and began to say 121 to one another, “What’s happening here? 122 For with authority and power 123 he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 4:37 So 124 the news 125 about him spread into all areas of the region. 126
4:38 After Jesus left 127 the synagogue, he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus 128 to help her. 129 4:39 So 130 he stood over her, commanded 131 the fever, and it left her. Immediately 132 she got up and began to serve 133 them.
[4:1] 1 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate continuity with the previous topic.
[4:1] 2 tn “River” is not in the Greek text but is supplied for clarity.
[4:1] 3 sn The double mention of the Spirit in this verse makes it clear that the temptation was neither the fault of Jesus nor an accident.
[4:1] 4 tc Most
[4:2] 6 tn Grk “in the desert, for forty days being tempted.” The participle πειραζόμενος (peirazomeno") has been translated as an adverbial clause in English to avoid a run-on sentence with a second “and.” Here the present participle suggests a period of forty days of testing. Three samples of the end of the testing are given in the following verses.
[4:2] 7 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:2] 8 sn The reference to Jesus eating nothing could well be an idiom meaning that he ate only what the desert provided; see Exod 34:28. A desert fast simply meant eating only what one could obtain in the desert. The parallel in Matt 4:2 speaks only of Jesus fasting.
[4:2] 9 tn The Greek word here is συντελεσθείσων (suntelesqeiswn) from the verb συντελέω (suntelew).
[4:3] 10 tn This is a first class condition: “If (and let’s assume that you are) the Son of God…”
[4:3] 11 tn Grk “say to this stone that it should become bread.”
[4:4] 12 tn Or “a person.” The Greek word ὁ ἄνθρωπος (Jo anqrwpo") is used generically for humanity. The translation “man” is used because the emphasis in Jesus’ response seems to be on his dependence on God as a man.
[4:4] 13 tc Most
[4:5] 14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[4:5] 16 tc Most
[4:5] 17 tn “A high place” is not in the Greek text but has been supplied for clarity.
[4:6] 18 tn Grk “And the devil.”
[4:6] 19 sn In Greek, this phrase is in an emphatic position. In effect, the devil is tempting Jesus by saying, “Look what you can have!”
[4:6] 20 tn Or “authority.” BDAG 353 s.v. ἐξουσία 6 suggests, concerning this passage, that the term means “the sphere in which the power is exercised, domain.” Cf. also Luke 22:53; 23:7; Acts 26:18; Eph 2:2.
[4:6] 21 tn The addendum referring to the glory of the kingdoms of the world forms something of an afterthought, as the following pronoun (“it”) makes clear, for the singular refers to the realm itself.
[4:6] 22 tn For the translation of παραδέδοται (paradedotai) see L&N 57.77. The devil is erroneously implying that God has given him such authority with the additional capability of sharing the honor.
[4:7] 23 tn This is a third class condition: “If you worship me (and I am not saying whether you will or will not)…”
[4:7] 24 tn Or “will prostrate yourself in worship before…” The verb προσκυνέω (proskunew) can allude not only to the act of worship but the position of the worshiper. See L&N 53.56.
[4:7] 25 tn One could translate this phrase “it will all be yours.” The sense is the same, but the translation given is a touch more emphatic and more likely to catch the force of the offer.
[4:8] 26 tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:8] 27 tc Most
[4:8] 28 tn Or “You will prostrate yourself in worship before…” The verb προσκυνέω (proskunew) can allude not only to the act of worship but the position of the worshiper. See L&N 53.56.
[4:8] 29 tc Most later
[4:8] 30 sn A quotation from Deut 6:13. The word “only” is an interpretive expansion not found in either the Hebrew or Greek (LXX) text of the OT.
[4:9] 31 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[4:9] 32 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the devil) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:9] 33 map For location see Map5 B1; Map6 F3; Map7 E2; Map8 F2; Map10 B3; JP1 F4; JP2 F4; JP3 F4; JP4 F4.
[4:9] 34 tn Grk “and stood him.”
[4:9] 35 sn The reference to the highest point of the temple probably refers to the one point on the temple’s southeast corner where the site looms directly over a cliff some 450 feet (135 m) high. However, some have suggested the reference could be to the temple’s high gate.
[4:9] 36 tn This is another first class condition, as in v. 3.
[4:10] 37 sn A quotation from Ps 91:11 by the devil. This was not so much an incorrect citation as a use in a wrong context (a misapplication of the passage).
[4:11] 38 sn A quotation from Ps 91:12.
[4:12] 39 tn Grk “And Jesus.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:12] 40 tn Grk “Jesus, answering, said to him.” This is redundant in English and has been simplified to “Jesus answered him.”
[4:12] 41 sn A quotation from Deut 6:16 used by Jesus in reply to the devil. The point is that God’s faithfulness should not be put to the test, but is rather a given.
[4:13] 42 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate a summary.
[4:13] 43 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the devil) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:13] 44 tn Grk “until a favorable time.”
[4:14] 45 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[4:14] 46 sn Once again Jesus is directed by the Spirit. Luke makes a point about Jesus’ association with the Spirit early in his ministry (3:22, 4:1 [2x]; 4:18).
[4:14] 48 tn Grk “all the surrounding region.”
[4:15] 49 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:15] 50 tn The imperfect verb has been translated ingressively.
[4:15] 51 sn The next incident in Luke 4:16-30 is probably to be seen as an example of this ministry of teaching in their synagogues in Galilee. Synagogues were places for Jewish prayer and worship, with recognized leadership (cf. Luke 8:41). Though the origin of the synagogue is not entirely clear, it seems to have arisen in the postexilic community during the intertestamental period. A town could establish a synagogue if there were at least ten men. In normative Judaism of the NT period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present (see the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2).
[4:15] 52 tn Grk “being glorified.” The participle δοξαζόμενος (doxazomeno") has been translated as a finite verb due to requirements of contemporary English style. This is the only place Luke uses the verb δοξάζω (doxazw) of Jesus.
[4:16] 53 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
[4:16] 54 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:16] 55 sn Nazareth was Jesus’ hometown (which is why he is known as Jesus of Nazareth) about 20 miles (30 km) southwest from Capernaum.
[4:16] 56 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
[4:16] 57 tn Grk “according to his custom.”
[4:16] 58 tn Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:16] 59 sn In normative Judaism of the period, the OT scripture was read and discussed in the synagogue by the men who were present. See the Mishnah, m. Megillah 3-4; m. Berakhot 2. First came the law, then the prophets, then someone was asked to speak on the texts. Normally one stood up to read out of respect for the scriptures, and then sat down (v. 20) to expound them.
[4:17] 60 tn Grk “And unrolling the scroll he found.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Instead a new sentence has been started in the translation.
[4:17] 61 tn Grk “opening,” but a scroll of this period would have to be unrolled. The participle ἀναπτύξας (anaptuxa") has been translated as a finite verb due to the requirements of contemporary English style.
[4:18] 62 sn The phrase he has anointed me is an allusion back to Jesus’ baptism in Luke 3:21-22.
[4:18] 63 tn Grk “to evangelize,” “to preach the gospel.”
[4:18] 64 sn The poor is a key term in Luke. It refers to the pious poor and indicates Jesus’ desire to reach out to those the world tends to forget or mistreat. It is like 1:52 in force and also will be echoed in 6:20 (also 1 Pet 2:11-25). Jesus is commissioned to do this.
[4:18] 65 tc The majority of
[4:18] 66 sn The release in view here is comprehensive, both at a physical level and a spiritual one, as the entire ministry of Jesus makes clear (Luke 1:77-79; 7:47; 24:47; Acts 2:38; 5:31; 10:43).
[4:18] 67 sn Again, as with the previous phrase, regaining of sight may well mean more than simply miraculously restoring physical sight, which itself pictures a deeper reality (Luke 1:77-79; 18:35-43).
[4:18] 68 sn The essence of Jesus’ messianic work is expressed in the phrase to set free. This line from Isa 58 says that Jesus will do what the nation had failed to do. It makes the proclamation messianic, not merely prophetic, because Jesus doesn’t just proclaim the message – he brings the deliverance. The word translated set free is the same Greek word (ἄφεσις, afesi") translated release earlier in the verse.
[4:18] 69 sn Again, as with the previous phrases, oppressed may well mean more than simply political or economic oppression, but a deeper reality of oppression by sin (Luke 1:77-79; 18:35-43).
[4:19] 70 sn The year of the Lord’s favor (Grk “the acceptable year of the Lord”) is a description of the year of Jubilee (Lev 25:10). The year of the total forgiveness of debt is now turned into a metaphor for salvation. Jesus had come to proclaim that God was ready to forgive sin totally.
[4:19] 71 sn A quotation from Isa 61:1-2a. Within the citation is a line from Isa 58:6, with its reference to setting the oppressed free.
[4:20] 72 tn Grk “And closing.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
[4:20] 73 tn Grk “closing,” but a scroll of this period would have to be rolled up. The participle πτύξας (ptuxas) has been translated as a finite verb due to the requirements of contemporary English style.
[4:20] 74 tn Or “gazing at,” “staring at.”
[4:21] 75 tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
[4:21] 76 sn See the note on today in 2:11.
[4:21] 77 tn Grk “in your hearing.”
[4:22] 78 tn Grk “And all.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:22] 79 tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:22] 80 sn The form of the question assumes a positive reply. It really amounts to an objection, as Jesus’ response in the next verses shows. Jesus spoke smoothly and impressively. He made a wonderful declaration, but could a local carpenter’s son make such an offer? That was their real question.
[4:23] 81 tn Grk “And he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity. Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:23] 82 sn The proverb Physician, heal yourself! means that Jesus should prove his claims. It is a “Prove it to us!” mentality that Jesus says the people have.
[4:23] 83 sn The remark “What we have heard that you did at Capernaum” makes many suspect that Luke has moved this event forward in sequence to typify what Jesus’ ministry was like, since the ministry in Capernaum follows in vv. 31-44. The location of this event in the parallel of Mark 6:1-6 also suggests this transposition.
[4:24] 84 tn Grk “said,” but since this is a continuation of previous remarks, “added” is used here.
[4:24] 85 tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”
[4:24] 86 sn Jesus argues that he will get no respect in his own hometown. There is a wordplay here on the word acceptable (δεκτός, dektos), which also occurs in v. 19: Jesus has declared the “acceptable” year of the Lord (here translated year of the Lord’s favor), but he is not “accepted” by the people of his own hometown.
[4:25] 87 sn Elijah’s days. Jesus, by discussing Elijah and Elisha, pictures one of the lowest periods in Israel’s history. These examples, along with v. 24, also show that Jesus is making prophetic claims as well as messianic ones. See 1 Kgs 17-18.
[4:25] 88 tn Or “the heaven”; the Greek word οὐρανός (ouranos) may be translated “sky” or “heaven,” depending on the context. Since the context here refers to a drought (which produced the famine), “sky” is preferable.
[4:25] 89 tn Grk “as.” The particle ὡς can also function temporally (see BDAG 1105-6 s.v. 8).
[4:26] 90 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.
[4:26] 91 sn Zarephath in Sidon was Gentile territory (see 1 Kgs 17:9-24). Jesus’ point was that he would be forced to minister elsewhere, and the implication is that this ministry would ultimately extend (through the work of his followers) to those outside the nation.
[4:27] 92 sn On Elisha see 2 Kgs 5:1-14.
[4:27] 93 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “yet” to indicate the contrast.
[4:27] 94 sn The reference to Naaman the Syrian (see 2 Kgs 5:1-24) is another example where an outsider and Gentile was blessed. The stress in the example is the missed opportunity of the people to experience God’s work, but it will still go on without them.
[4:28] 95 tn The words “the people” are not in the Greek text but have been supplied.
[4:29] 98 tn The Greek conjunction ὥστε (Jwste) here indicates their purpose.
[4:29] 99 sn The attempt to throw him down the cliff looks like “lynch law,” but it may really be an indication that Jesus was regarded as a false prophet who was worthy of death (Deut 13:5). Such a sentence meant being thrown into a pit and then stoned.
[4:30] 100 tn Grk “their midst.”
[4:30] 101 tn The verb πορεύομαι (poreuomai) in Luke often suggests divine direction, “to go in a led direction” (4:42; 7:6, 11; 9:51, 52, 56, 57; 13:33; 17:11; 22:22, 29; 24:28). It could suggest that Jesus is on a journey, a theme that definitely is present later in Luke 9-19.
[4:31] 102 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the continuation of the topic; in light of his rejection at Nazareth, Jesus went on to Capernaum.
[4:31] 103 sn Capernaum was a town on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 680 ft (204 m) below sea level. It was a major trade and economic center in the North Galilean region, and it became the hub of operations for Jesus’ Galilean ministry.
[4:31] 105 tn Grk “them”; the referent (the people) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:32] 106 tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:32] 107 sn They were amazed. The astonishment shown here is like that in Luke 2:48.
[4:32] 108 tn Grk “because his word was.”
[4:32] 109 sn Jesus’ teaching impressed the hearers with the directness of its claim (with authority). A study of Jewish rabbinic interpretation shows that it was typical to cite a list of authorities to make one’s point. Apparently Jesus addressed the issues in terms of his own understanding.
[4:33] 110 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a specific example of how Jesus spoke with authority (v. 32).
[4:33] 111 sn See the note on synagogues in 4:15.
[4:33] 112 tn Grk “having an unclean, demonic spirit,” that is, an evil spirit. This is the only place Luke uses this lengthy phrase. Normally he simply says an “unclean spirit.”
[4:34] 113 tn Grk “What to us and to you?” This is an idiom meaning, “We have nothing to do with one another,” or “Why bother us!” The phrase τί ἡμῖν καὶ σοί (ti Jhmin kai soi) is Semitic in origin, though it made its way into colloquial Greek (BDAG 275 s.v. ἐγώ). The equivalent Hebrew expression in the Old Testament had two basic meanings: (1) When one person was unjustly bothering another, the injured party could say “What to me and to you?” meaning, “What have I done to you that you should do this to me?” (Judg 11:12; 2 Chr 35:21; 1 Kgs 17:18). (2) When someone was asked to get involved in a matter he felt was no business of his, he could say to the one asking him, “What to me and to you?” meaning, “That is your business, how am I involved?” (2 Kgs 3:13; Hos 14:8). Option (1) implies hostility, while option (2) merely implies disengagement. BDAG suggests the following as glosses for this expression: What have I to do with you? What have we in common? Leave me alone! Never mind! Hostility between Jesus and the demons is certainly to be understood in this context, hence the translation: “Leave me alone….” For a very similar expression, see Luke 8:28 and (in a different context) John 2:4.
[4:34] 114 sn The confession of Jesus as the Holy One here is significant, coming from an unclean spirit. Jesus, as the Holy One of God, who bears God’s Spirit and is the expression of holiness, comes to deal with uncleanness and unholiness.
[4:35] 115 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast involved in Jesus’ reply.
[4:35] 116 tn Grk “rebuked him, saying.” The participle λέγων (legwn) is redundant in English and has not been translated.
[4:35] 117 sn The command Come out of him! is an example of Jesus’ authority (see v. 32). Unlike other exorcists, Jesus did not use magical incantations nor did he invoke anyone else’s name.
[4:35] 118 tn Grk “him”; the referent (the man) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:35] 119 sn The departure of the evil spirit from the man without hurting him shows Jesus’ total deliverance and protection of this individual.
[4:36] 120 tn Grk “And they.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
[4:36] 121 tn This imperfect verb has been translated as an ingressive imperfect.
[4:36] 122 tn Grk “What is this word?” The Greek term λόγος (logos) has a wide range of meaning. Here it seems to mean, “What is this matter?” More idiomatically it would be, “What’s going on here?!”
[4:36] 123 sn The phrase with authority and power is in an emphatic position in the Greek text. Once again the authority of Jesus is the point, but now it is not just his teaching that is emphasized, but his ministry. Jesus combined word and deed into a powerful testimony in Capernaum.
[4:37] 124 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate resultative nature of the action.
[4:37] 125 tn That is, “information concerning a person or an event – ‘report, news, word, information’” (L&N 33.211).
[4:37] 126 sn Given Luke 4:31, the phrase the region is a reference to Galilee.
[4:38] 127 tn Grk “Arising from the synagogue, he entered.” The participle ἀναστάς (anastas) has been taken temporally here, and the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:38] 128 tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[4:38] 129 tn Grk “they asked him about her.” It is clear from the context that they were concerned about her physical condition. The verb “to help” in the translation makes this explicit.
[4:39] 130 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the resultative nature of Jesus’ actions.
[4:39] 131 tn Or “rebuked,” but “rebuke” implies strong disapproval, while the usage here involves more of a command with perhaps the implication of a threat (L&N 33.331).
[4:39] 132 tn Grk “and immediately.” Because of the difference between Greek style, which often begins sentences or clauses with “and,” and English style, which generally does not, δέ (de) has not been translated here. Instead a new sentence is started in the translation.
[4:39] 133 tn The imperfect verb has been translated ingressively.
