Thematic Bible
Luke 9:1 (show verse)
Jesus then called the twelve apostles together and gave them power and authority over all evil spirits and [the ability] to heal diseases.
Luke 9:2 (show verse)
And He sent them out to preach the [coming] kingdom of God and to heal sick people.
Luke 9:3 (show verse)
He said to them, "Do not take anything with you during your travels; not [even] a walking stick [Note: By comparing this and the restriction in Matt. 10:10, with the permission given in Mark 6:8, the harmony seems to be "if you do not already have a walking stick, do not get one"], or a traveling bag [for personal belongings], or food, or money, or [even] two coats [Note: Mark 6:9 says, "take only one coat" confirming the idea that Jesus was saying, in effect, "do not take anything extra, go just as you are"].
Luke 9:4 (show verse)
And whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that place.
Luke 9:5 (show verse)
And those people who do not welcome you, shake the dust off of your shoes as evidence against them." [Note: This was a Jewish custom showing disdain, and intended to suggest their unworthiness]
Luke 9:6 (show verse)
So, they left and went throughout the villages preaching the good news and healing people everywhere.
Luke 9:7 (show verse)
Now when King Herod, the tetrarch [i.e., governor of that district] heard about all that was happening [concerning Jesus], he was perplexed because some people were saying that John [the Immerser] had risen from the dead;
Luke 9:8 (show verse)
some [were saying] that [the prophet] Elijah had appeared; and [still] others [were saying] that one of the [other] prophets of old had risen again [from the dead].
Luke 9:9 (show verse)
Then Herod said, "I had John decapitated, so who is this person about whom I hear such things?" And he became eager to see Jesus.
Luke 9:10 (show verse)
When the apostles returned they told Jesus what they had done. Then Jesus took them and went away privately to a town called Bethsaida. [Note: This town was on the east side of Lake Galilee, and apparently was a different "Bethsaida" from the one mentioned in Mark 6:45].
Luke 9:11 (show verse)
But the crowds found out about it [i.e., where Jesus had gone], so they followed Him [there]. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the [coming] kingdom of God and cured those who needed healing.
Luke 9:12 (show verse)
Then late in the day the twelve apostles came and said to Jesus, "Send the crowd away so they can go into the villages and the surrounding countryside to find lodging and food because this place is deserted."
Luke 9:13 (show verse)
But He said to the apostles, "You men give them something to eat." But they replied, "We have only five loaves of [barley] bread [See John 6:9] and two [probably smoked] fish, unless we go and buy [more] food for all these people."
Luke 9:14 (show verse)
For there were about five thousand men [there]. So, He said to His disciples, "Have these people recline [on the grass. See Matt. 14:19] in groups of about fifty each."
Luke 9:15 (show verse)
So, the disciples did this, and had all the people recline [on the grass in groups].
Luke 9:16 (show verse)
Then Jesus took the five loaves of bread and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, asked God's blessing on the food. [Then] He broke it [in pieces] and gave it to the disciples to distribute to the crowds.
Luke 9:17 (show verse)
They all ate until they were full, then gathered up twelve baskets [full] of the remaining broken pieces.
Luke 9:18 (show verse)
And it happened while Jesus was praying off by Himself that His disciples joined Him. He asked them, saying, "Who are the crowds saying that I am?"
Luke 9:19 (show verse)
And they answered, " [Some say you are] John the Immerser, while others say [the prophet] Elijah, and [still others say] that one of the [other] prophets of old has risen again [from the dead]."
Luke 9:20 (show verse)
Then Jesus said to them, "But who do you men say that I am?" And Peter answered, " [You are] the Christ of God [i.e., God's specially chosen one]."
Luke 9:21 (show verse)
Then He sternly ordered them not to tell this to anyone,
Luke 9:22 (show verse)
saying, "The Son of man must suffer many things and be rejected by the [Jewish] elders, leading priests and experts in the law of Moses. Then He will be killed and [yet] be raised up on the third day."
Luke 9:23 (show verse)
Then He said to everyone, "If anyone wants to be my follower, he should deny self [i.e., of always having its own way] and accept his cross [i.e., his responsibilities, with all their difficulties] everyday, and [then he can] become my follower.
Luke 9:24 (show verse)
For whoever would [try to] save his life [i.e., by neglecting spiritual things] will lose it [i.e., miss out on the blessings of God]. But whoever [willingly] loses his life [i.e., in commitment to God's service] for my sake, that person will save it [i.e., obtain both temporal and spiritual blessings].
Luke 9:25 (show verse)
For what is a person benefited if he gains the whole world [i.e., of material things] and [yet] loses [his spiritual life] or gives himself up [to spiritual ruin]?
Luke 9:26 (show verse)
For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, the Son of man will [also] be ashamed of him when He returns in His own splendor and that of the Father and of the holy angels.
Luke 9:27 (show verse)
But I tell you the truth, there are some people standing here who will surely not experience death until they see that God's kingdom has come [i.e., in a demonstration of power. See Mark 9:1]."
Luke 9:28 (show verse)
And it happened about eight days after Jesus said these things that He took Peter, John and James with Him and went up in the mountain to pray. [Note: This was probably Mt. Tabor, which was nearby].
Luke 9:29 (show verse)
And as He was praying, the appearance of His face was [miraculously] changed and His clothing became dazzling white.
Luke 9:30 (show verse)
Then suddenly two men were [seen] talking with Jesus. They were Moses and Elijah,
Luke 9:31 (show verse)
who appeared in splendor, and were speaking of Jesus' [coming] departure [i.e., His imminent death], which He was soon to experience at Jerusalem.
Luke 9:32 (show verse)
Now Peter and those with him [i.e., James and John] had been very sleepy, but became wide awake when they saw the splendor of Jesus and the two men standing with Him.
Luke 9:33 (show verse)
And it happened, as the two men were leaving Him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is [so] good for us to be here. Let us make three [small] shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." [But] he did not realize what he was saying. [See note at Matt. 17:4]
Luke 9:34 (show verse)
And while he was speaking, a cloud appeared and engulfed them and the apostles were afraid as Moses and Elijah entered the cloud [i.e., and disappeared].
Luke 9:35 (show verse)
Then a voice spoke out of the cloud, saying, "This is My Son, [whom] I have chosen; listen to Him."
Luke 9:36 (show verse)
And after the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. But the apostles kept quiet [about this incident], and did not tell anyone at that time about anything they had seen.
Luke 9:37 (show verse)
And it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a large crowd met Jesus.
Luke 9:38 (show verse)
Just then a man from the crowd shouted out, "Teacher, I beg you, look at my son [i.e., favorably], for he is my only child.
Luke 9:39 (show verse)
For when an evil spirit takes hold of him he suddenly screams and [then] it throws him into convulsions so that he foams [at the mouth]. And it does not want to leave him, [even after] severely bruising him.
Luke 9:40 (show verse)
And I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not."
Luke 9:41 (show verse)
And Jesus replied, saying, "You perverse generation of faithless people! How long must I be [patient] with you, and put up with you [i.e., before you understand]? Bring your son here."
Luke 9:42 (show verse)
And while the boy was approaching [Jesus], an evil spirit threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus spoke sternly to the evil spirit and [then] returned him to his father healed.
Luke 9:43 (show verse)
And everyone was amazed at [seeing] the greatness of God. But while they were all amazed at everything Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,
Luke 9:44 (show verse)
"Pay close attention to what I am saying, for the Son of man will be handed over to [evil] men."
Luke 9:45 (show verse)
But they did not understand what He was talking about, for it was hidden from them, so that they would not understand its meaning. And they were afraid to ask Him about what He had said.
Luke 9:46 (show verse)
Then a dispute developed among Jesus' disciples as to which one of them was the greatest.
Luke 9:47 (show verse)
When Jesus knew what they were disputing about in their minds, He took a small child and placed him at His side,
Luke 9:48 (show verse)
and said to the disciples, "The person who welcomes this little child in my name [i.e., because he belongs to me], welcomes me [also]. And the person who welcomes me [i.e., into his life ?] welcomes God, who sent me. For that person who is the least [significant] among you men is the one who is the greatest [in importance]."
Luke 9:49 (show verse)
Then [the apostle] John answered and said, "Master, we saw someone driving out evil spirits by [using] your name, so we told him not to, because he was not following [you] with us."
Luke 9:50 (show verse)
But Jesus said to him, "Do not try to stop him, for the person who is not against you is for you."
Luke 9:51 (show verse)
And it happened when the time came for Jesus to be taken up [to heaven] that He firmly determined to go to Jerusalem.
Luke 9:52 (show verse)
So, He sent messengers on ahead of Him, who went and entered a Samaritan village to prepare for Him [i.e., for His food and lodging].
Luke 9:53 (show verse)
And these Samaritans did not welcome Him because He was heading for Jerusalem. [Note: They perceived He was a Jew and Samaritans did not associate with Jews].
Luke 9:54 (show verse)
And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said [to Him], "Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to burn them up?"
Luke 9:55 (show verse)
But He turned to them and spoke sternly. {{Some manuscripts add "You do not know what kind of a spirit you represent,
Luke 9:56 (show verse)
for the Son of man did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them"}} So, they went to another village.
Luke 9:57 (show verse)
And as they were going along the road, a certain man [i.e., an expert in the law of Moses. See Matt. 8:19] said to Him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Luke 9:58 (show verse)
Jesus replied to him, "The foxes have dens [in which to live] and the birds of the sky have nests [in which to roost], but the Son of man does not have anywhere to lay His head."
Luke 9:59 (show verse)
And [then] He said to another person, "Become my follower." But he replied, "Lord, allow me to go and bury my father first."
Luke 9:60 (show verse)
But Jesus replied to him, "Let the [spiritually] dead bury their own dead [i.e., let them care for their family members until they die], but you go and proclaim the [coming] kingdom of God."
Luke 9:61 (show verse)
Then another person said [to Jesus], "Lord, I will become your follower, but first let me say goodbye to my family." [Note: There was the likelihood that family members might try to dissuade him from his commitment to follow the Lord].
Luke 9:62 (show verse)
But Jesus said to him, "Nobody who begins plowing [a field] and then looks back [i.e., in regret for beginning such an arduous task] is suited for [serving in] the kingdom of God."