Luke 4:40 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.

NIV: At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them.

NASB: Now while the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He was laying His hands on each one of them and healing them.

CSB: When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to him. As he laid his hands on each one of them, he healed them.

NLT: As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.

KJV: Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

NKJV: When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

This takes place at the home of Simon (Luke 4:38), also known as Peter (John 1:42; Mark 3:16). Jesus has just healed the mother of Peter's wife—instantly curing her of a drastic fever (Luke 4:39). His teaching and preaching apparently have already attracted attention, and this most recent event adds to the publicity.

Luke mentions the setting sun, and the great number of people being helped by their loved ones to visit Jesus. Just before coming to Peter's home, Jesus was in the synagogue on the Sabbath day (Luke 4:31–37). There, He healed a demon-possessed man. Afterwards, He was in Peter's home. According to traditional interpretations of the Old Testament, carrying the sick on a Sabbath day would have been illegal. Once the sun set, the next day began, and people were free to work.

Matthew also notes this gathering of the sick and demon-oppressed (Matthew 8:16–17). This incident is one of the few times Scripture explicitly says that Jesus healed every person in that setting (Matthew 12:15). At other times, Jesus is said to heal every kind of disease (Matthew 9:35; Mark 1:34). In others, many people are healed as they touch or meet with Christ amidst the crowd (Mark 6:56; Matthew 14:36; Luke 7:21).

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.