Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible









For [truly] it was both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, who gathered together in this city [of Jerusalem] against your Holy Servant Jesus Verse ConceptsAnointing, Of ChristJesus Christ, Holiness OfChrist, Character OfProphecies Concerning ChristChrist, Names ForThe Anointed OneAntagonism From Jew And GentileNamed Gentile Rulers

You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong, therefore God, your God [i.e., the Father], has placed you above your companions when He anointed you [i.e., specially chose you] with the oil of joy [i.e., your selection as king was a joyous occasion]." Verse ConceptsGod, Joy OfAnointing, Of ChristAnointing With OilHatredSin, And God's CharacterExaltation Of ChristChrist, Character OfHoly Spirit, Types OfGladnessThe Holy Spirit Giving JoyHating EvilLoving GoodRighteousness Of ChristAnointing Oil


Then Jesus returned to Galilee with power from the Holy Spirit; and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding region. And He was honored by everyone [as] He taught in their [Jewish] synagogues. Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. read more.
The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]."

And when the disciples heard this report they united their voices to God in prayer [saying]: "O, Lord, You made the heaven, the earth, the sea and everything in them. [You] said, through the Holy Spirit and by means of [the inspired writings of] our forefather David, your servant, [Psa. 2:1-2], 'Why did the [unconverted] Gentiles rage [at the Messiah], and the people [of Israel] devise useless plans [for opposing Christ]? The kings of the earth [i.e., Herod and Pilate] took their stand [against Jesus], and the rulers [of the Jews] gathered against the Lord and against His Anointed One [i.e., Christ].' read more.
For [truly] it was both Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, who gathered together in this city [of Jerusalem] against your Holy Servant Jesus

You yourselves know [all this, and] how this message was proclaimed throughout Judea, having begun from Galilee after the preaching of the immersion [taught and practiced] by John. This message was about Jesus from Nazareth and how God specially chose Him [and signified it] by giving Him the Holy Spirit and power. He traveled all over doing good [for people] and healing everyone who was [being] oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

But God says [this] about the Son [Psa. 97:7], "Your throne [i.e. kingdom], O God [Note: This term here is applied to Jesus], will last forever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter [i.e., the standard for ruling] of your kingdom. You have loved what is right and hated what is wrong, therefore God, your God [i.e., the Father], has placed you above your companions when He anointed you [i.e., specially chose you] with the oil of joy [i.e., your selection as king was a joyous occasion]."


He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it." Verse ConceptsGospel, Confirmation OfTodayScripture SaysScriptures FulfilledReading The Biblefulfillment





"The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]."

We are afflicted in every way, but are not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not to the point of despair; [we are] persecuted, but are not deserted [by God]; [we are] struck down, but are not destroyed. We always carry around in our [physical] bodies the [threat of] dying, as Jesus did [i.e., the apostles were constantly exposed to impending danger and death], so that the life of Jesus [i.e., His virtue, courage, faithfulness, etc.] may be demonstrated in our bodies [i.e., in the way we live] also.

Therefore, we do not get discouraged, for though our physical body is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed daily. For our insignificant troubles [here on earth], which last only a short time, are producing for us an immeasurable, never ending [counter-] weight of splendor [i.e., in heaven. See Rom. 8:18]. So, we do not look at the things which can be seen, but at what cannot be seen, for the things which can be seen are [only] temporary, but the things which cannot be seen are never ending.



We are afflicted in every way, but are not crushed; [we are] perplexed, but not to the point of despair; [we are] persecuted, but are not deserted [by God]; [we are] struck down, but are not destroyed. We always carry around in our [physical] bodies the [threat of] dying, as Jesus did [i.e., the apostles were constantly exposed to impending danger and death], so that the life of Jesus [i.e., His virtue, courage, faithfulness, etc.] may be demonstrated in our bodies [i.e., in the way we live] also.

Therefore, we do not get discouraged, for though our physical body is decaying, yet our inner person is being renewed daily. For our insignificant troubles [here on earth], which last only a short time, are producing for us an immeasurable, never ending [counter-] weight of splendor [i.e., in heaven. See Rom. 8:18]. So, we do not look at the things which can be seen, but at what cannot be seen, for the things which can be seen are [only] temporary, but the things which cannot be seen are never ending.


And Jesus said, "I came to this world to judge [it], so that people who can not see [spiritually] will [be able to] see; and those who [think they can] see [spiritually] will become blind." Verse ConceptsCommunicationSpiritual Blindness, Removal OfJesus Christ, JudgeGod BlindingHealing Of The BlindChrist JudgingJudgmentsBlindnessJudgement

So, Jesus spoke to them again [i.e., to the Jewish authorities. See 7:45], saying, "I am the light of the world. The person who becomes my follower will never live in [spiritual] darkness, but have the light of [i.e., for his] life [i.e., followers of Jesus will not live in error and sin but in truth and righteousness]." Verse ConceptsDawnDarkness, Deliverance FromFollowing Jesus ChristBeing A LightenlightenmentBeing A Soldierdiscipleship, benefits ofHow Disciples Are CalledClaimsLife, Of FaithLight, SpiritualMetaphorsNames And Titles For ChristTypes Of ChristDark DaysPromised LightLife Through ChristThe Light Of ChristFrom Darkness To LightComing Out Of DarknessInstructions About FollowingDarknessLightSpiritual DarknessThe WorldLight As A Symbol Of SalvationLife That Is Worth Living


For God, who said [Gen. 1:3], "Light will shine out of darkness," has [also] shone in our hearts to provide [us with] the light of the knowledge of God's splendor [as it shines] on the face of Christ. [Note: This allusion to "splendor shining on Christ's face" may be a continuation of the analogy used in 3:13]. Verse ConceptsGod, Glory OfDarkness, Deliverance Fromdarkness, naturalenlightenmentSpiritual Blindness, Removal OfBeginningHeart, Fallen And RedeemedLight, NaturalLight, SpiritualGlory Of GodClarityGod's Glory RevealedShiningGod's Shekinah GloryThe SunHeavenly FacesThe Light Of ChristFrom Darkness To LightGod Likened To The SunDarknessGlory of ChristKnowing GodLight As A Symbol Of GodReflecting God's Heart


He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it." Verse ConceptsGospel, Confirmation OfTodayScripture SaysScriptures FulfilledReading The Biblefulfillment













and down the middle of the city's street. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life; it produced twelve crops of fruit, yielding a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree [served as medicine] for healing the nations. Verse ConceptsThe Number TwelveHealingMedicineWorldlinessYearsAbundance, MaterialUnceasingContinual GoodIncreasing FruitFoliageMetaphorical TreesTwelve ThingsGod HealsHealing Of NationsBenefits Of HeavenRiver Of LifeTree Of LifeRiversHerbsMonthsGod Healing Our LandGod's Healing Love




Then Jesus returned to Galilee with power from the Holy Spirit; and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding region. And He was honored by everyone [as] He taught in their [Jewish] synagogues. Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. read more.
The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and


[how] blind people are receiving back their sight, and crippled people are walking [again], and people with infectious skin diseases are being healed, and deaf-mutes are hearing [and speaking (?) again], and people are being raised [from the dead], and poor people are having the good news preached to them. Verse ConceptsDeafnessBlindness, HealingsdiseasesHearingKingdom Of God, Entry IntoLamenessNewsPoverty, Remedies ForWalkingDisabled PersonsNatural DeafnessThe Healed WalkingThe Deaf HearingHealing LepersThose Helping The PoorBlindness



Then Jesus returned to Galilee with power from the Holy Spirit; and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding region. And He was honored by everyone [as] He taught in their [Jewish] synagogues. Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. read more.
The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and


And when the Pharisees saw this they said to His disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and worldly people?" When Jesus heard this, He said, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor; but [only] sick people do. Go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy and not [only] sacrifice.' For I did not come to call righteous people [to be my followers] but sinners."

And when the experts in the law of Moses, being Pharisees [i.e., a strict sect of the Jewish religion], saw that He was eating with tax collectors and worldly people, they said to His disciples, "Why does Jesus eat and drink with tax collectors and worldly people?" When Jesus heard [about] this, He said to them, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but [only] sick people do. I did not come to call those who do right, but sinners [instead]."

Now the Pharisees and their experts in the law of Moses complained to Jesus' disciples, saying, "Why do you men eat and drink with tax collectors and worldly people?" And Jesus answered them, "People who are healthy do not need a doctor, but [only] sick people do. I did not come to call those who are doing right to repent [i.e., to change their hearts and lives], but [only those who are] sinners."

Is anyone among you sick? [Then] he should call for the elders of the church and they should pray for him, after pouring [olive] oil on him in the name [i.e., by the authority] of the Lord. And if their prayer is [offered] by faith, [God] will heal the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up [from his sickbed]. And if he had sinned, he will be forgiven for them [Note: This may imply that the man's sickness was the result of some sin. In any event, his forgiveness would follow his repentance]. So, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another to be healed [from sin sickness]. The special request of a righteous person is empowered with [great] effectiveness.









and down the middle of the city's street. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life; it produced twelve crops of fruit, yielding a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree [served as medicine] for healing the nations. Verse ConceptsThe Number TwelveHealingMedicineWorldlinessYearsAbundance, MaterialUnceasingContinual GoodIncreasing FruitFoliageMetaphorical TreesTwelve ThingsGod HealsHealing Of NationsBenefits Of HeavenRiver Of LifeTree Of LifeRiversHerbsMonthsGod Healing Our LandGod's Healing Love


Then Jesus returned to Galilee with power from the Holy Spirit; and a report about Him spread through all the surrounding region. And He was honored by everyone [as] He taught in their [Jewish] synagogues. Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. read more.
The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]."

You yourselves know [all this, and] how this message was proclaimed throughout Judea, having begun from Galilee after the preaching of the immersion [taught and practiced] by John. This message was about Jesus from Nazareth and how God specially chose Him [and signified it] by giving Him the Holy Spirit and power. He traveled all over doing good [for people] and healing everyone who was [being] oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.







[After] leaving Nazareth [i.e., a major town in Galilee], He came to live in Capernaum, [a city] beside Lake Galilee, near the districts of Zebulun and Naphtali. [This was] so that what Isaiah the prophet had spoken would be fulfilled, saying, [Isa. 9:1-2] "The districts of Zebulun and Naphtali, near the lake, beyond [i.e., where it enters] the Jordan in Galilee, [the territory] of the Gentiles; read more.
the people who lived [there] in [spiritual] darkness saw a great light. Light shone upon these people, who lived in an area that was under the shadow of death."

Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and read more.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]." Then He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were focused on Him. He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it." So, everyone spoke well of Him and marvelled at the gracious words coming from His mouth. They said, "Is he not Joseph's son?" And He replied to them, "No doubt you will tell me this proverb, 'Doctor, heal yourself,' and 'Perform [the miracles] here in your own home town also that we heard you did in Capernaum.'" And He said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his own home town. But it is true when I tell you, [while] there were many widows [living] in Israel during the time of Elijah, when it did not rain for three and a half years, causing a great famine over the entire land, Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to a widow in Zarephath [i.e., a Gentile town] in the region of Sidon. And [while] there were many people with infectious skin diseases [living] in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet, none of them was healed except Naaman, the Syrian [who was also a Gentile]." Then everyone in the synagogue became extremely angry when they heard these things. They rose up and threw Jesus out of the city, leading Him to the top of the hill on which the city was built, in order to throw Him down [from a cliff]. But He [just] walked right through them and went on His way. Then He went down to the Galilean city of Capernaum and taught the Jews on the Sabbath day.





Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and read more.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]." Then He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were focused on Him. He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it." So, everyone spoke well of Him and marvelled at the gracious words coming from His mouth. They said, "Is he not Joseph's son?" And He replied to them, "No doubt you will tell me this proverb, 'Doctor, heal yourself,' and 'Perform [the miracles] here in your own home town also that we heard you did in Capernaum.'" And He said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his own home town. But it is true when I tell you, [while] there were many widows [living] in Israel during the time of Elijah, when it did not rain for three and a half years, causing a great famine over the entire land, Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to a widow in Zarephath [i.e., a Gentile town] in the region of Sidon. And [while] there were many people with infectious skin diseases [living] in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet, none of them was healed except Naaman, the Syrian [who was also a Gentile]." Then everyone in the synagogue became extremely angry when they heard these things. They rose up and threw Jesus out of the city, leading Him to the top of the hill on which the city was built, in order to throw Him down [from a cliff]. But He [just] walked right through them and went on His way.






Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and read more.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]." Then He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were focused on Him. He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it."









and down the middle of the city's street. And on each side of the river stood the tree of life; it produced twelve crops of fruit, yielding a crop every month. And the leaves of the tree [served as medicine] for healing the nations. Verse ConceptsThe Number TwelveHealingMedicineWorldlinessYearsAbundance, MaterialUnceasingContinual GoodIncreasing FruitFoliageMetaphorical TreesTwelve ThingsGod HealsHealing Of NationsBenefits Of HeavenRiver Of LifeTree Of LifeRiversHerbsMonthsGod Healing Our LandGod's Healing Love





Jesus then went to Nazareth where He had been brought up. He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day, according to His custom, and stood up to read [the Scriptures]. The book [i.e., actually a scroll] of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. He opened the book and found the passage where it was written [Isa. 61:1f], "The Holy Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He anointed me [i.e., specially chose me] to preach good news to poor people. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to those who are captives [i.e., to sin]; recovery of sight to the [spiritually as well as physically] blind; to set free those who are oppressed [i.e., by Satan] and read more.
to proclaim the year of the Lord's acceptance [i.e., the time when people would become His obedient followers]." Then He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were focused on Him. He began speaking to them [saying], "Today this [passage of] Scripture has been fulfilled as you listened to it." So, everyone spoke well of Him and marvelled at the gracious words coming from His mouth. They said, "Is he not Joseph's son?" And He replied to them, "No doubt you will tell me this proverb, 'Doctor, heal yourself,' and 'Perform [the miracles] here in your own home town also that we heard you did in Capernaum.'" And He said, "Truly I tell you, no prophet is acceptable in his own home town. But it is true when I tell you, [while] there were many widows [living] in Israel during the time of Elijah, when it did not rain for three and a half years, causing a great famine over the entire land, Elijah was not sent to any of them, except to a widow in Zarephath [i.e., a Gentile town] in the region of Sidon. And [while] there were many people with infectious skin diseases [living] in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet, none of them was healed except Naaman, the Syrian [who was also a Gentile]."

Names