Luke 8:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out,

NIV: One day Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let us go over to the other side of the lake.' So they got into a boat and set out.

NASB: Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, 'Let’s cross over to the other side of the lake.' So they launched out.

CSB: One day he and his disciples got into a boat, and he told them, "Let's cross over to the other side of the lake." So they set out,

NLT: One day Jesus said to his disciples, 'Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.' So they got into a boat and started out.

KJV: Now it came to pass on a certain day, that he went into a ship with his disciples: and he said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth.

NKJV: Now it happened, on a certain day, that He got into a boat with His disciples. And He said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side of the lake.” And they launched out.

Mark's account suggests Jesus was teaching by the Sea of Galilee and got into a boat so the crowd could hear Him (Mark 4:1). After He taught the parable of the sower, He went to a more private place with the Twelve and other disciples where He shared several other parables (Mark 4:10). The evening of that day (Mark 4:35), Jesus decided to go across the lake. Matthew says that Jesus interacted with two potential disciples between the time He first gave orders to go to the other side and the opportunity He had to get into the boat (Matthew 8:18–23).

The term "disciples" is ambiguous. Luke sometimes uses the phrase to mean more followers than just the Twelve (Luke 8:9; Mark 4:10). It's also unclear how big the boat is, although "sail" in verse 23 infers a sailing vessel instead of a boat that is rowed with oars. Other boats followed (Mark 4:36), but their fate in the storm is not mentioned.

The "lake" is Lake Gennesaret, also called the Sea of Galilee. It is fed by the Jordan River on the north near Bethsaida and drains out into the Jordan on the south to feed the Dead Sea. Gennesaret is also translated Kinnereth and means "harp" in Hebrew; the lake is somewhat shaped like a harp, about seven miles wide by nine miles long. The western Galilean shore has gentler hills, while the eastern shore is a steep bank—perfect for out-of-control pigs with self-destructive intents (Luke 8:33).

Luke 8:22–25 records people's reaction to Jesus' message. Here, people must decide who Jesus is in the face of miraculous salvation from earthly threats. When Jesus calms a storm over the Sea of Galilee, He rescues the disciples and shows His authority over both nature and chaos. They understandably must rethink who He is. Next Jesus saves people from demons, illness, and death. The story of Jesus taming the storm is also in Matthew 8:18, 23–27 and Mark 4:35–41.

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

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.