Luke 4:36 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"

NIV: All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!"

NASB: And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another, saying, 'What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!'

CSB: Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, "What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!"

NLT: Amazed, the people exclaimed, 'What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!'

KJV: And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

NKJV: Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

The people reacting here are those who witnessed Jesus exorcize a demon from a man in the synagogue in Capernaum (Luke 4:31–34). Jesus sharply commanded the spirit, which left the possessed man after a minor seizure or fainting spell (Luke 4:35). The same people who noted the moral and intellectual authority of Jesus' teaching are now amazed at the spiritual power of His presence.

Luke's Greek phrasing connects the people's amazement to the immediate effect of Jesus' words. What impresses the crowd is that Jesus' command—His spoken rebuke—so powerfully impacted the demon (Matthew 8:26–27). Jesus did not engage in a long ritual. He did not plead with the demon or perform a pagan ritual. He commanded the spirit, on His own authority, and it was compelled to obey.

This impressive act will generate much news about Jesus in the surrounding area (Luke 4:37).

Luke 4:31–44 contains examples of Jesus healing as He teaches in Capernaum. These events include exorcising demons and curing diseases. Jesus' work is so popular that He finds it hard to be alone; the people demand He stay and continue. However, His mission includes other cities and towns. Jesus leaves to preach elsewhere, and the next passages record His calling of the disciples.

Jesus is taken into the wilderness by the Holy Spirit. While fasting there, He is tempted by Satan. These temptations share an element of ignoring God in favor of what seems easier or quicker. Jesus resists all of these, citing Scripture as He does. When Jesus returns, He preaches and heals to great publicity in Judea and Galilee. While His hometown responds with stubborn skepticism, others are eager to hear His teaching and experience His miraculous power.

Chapter 3 explained how John the Baptist preached to prepare others to receive Jesus Christ. Luke then provided Jesus' earthly ancestry. Chapter 4 begins with Jesus in the wilderness being tempted by Satan. He returns to preach and perform healing miracles in Judea and Galilee. Chapter 5 shows Him calling disciples and demonstrating further proofs of His authority.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.