(Tap footnote to read it. Old Testament quotations are underlined. "Love" with a caret ("^love") is agapé.1"agapé" The Greek words ἀγάπη (agapé, noun), and ἀγαπάω (agapaó; verb) are typically translated "love". However, unlike our English word "love" – which primarily speaks of affection and feelings – agapé centers on choice and behavior. It’s the "love" based on will, choice, behavior, and action; not feelings. (Feelings-based love is the Greek word φιλέω (phileó), which properly means "brotherly love/affection".) Thus, you could hate someone passionately and still treat him with "agapé". Agapé "love" is best understood as the pursuit of what is most beneficial to someone or something, regardless of the cost to yourself or the type of response received from the person or thing. It can also indicate a preference for someone or something over other things. )
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Luke Chapter 1
Luke’s preface
- Insomuch as many put their hand to compose a complete narrative concerning the matters which have been accomplished among us,
- just as the men who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning delivered them to us;
- it also seemed good to me – having carefully *investigated all things from the beginning – to write them to you in consecutive order, noblest Theophilus,
- so you might know the reliability of the matters about which you were orally instructed.
John the Baptizer’s birth foretold
- In the days of King Herod, there was a Judean priest named Zechariah from Abijah’s division of priests, and his wife was from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
- And both were righteous in the sight of God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
- And there was no child for them because Elizabeth was barren and both of them were *advanced in their years.
- Now, it happened when he was to serve as a priest in the presence of God in the order of his division of priests
- according to the custom of the priesthood, he obtained by lot to burn incense after having entered into the temple of the Lord.
- And all the multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
- And an angel of the Lord appeared to him, *standing to the right of the altar of incense.
- And having seen him, Zechariah was deeply shaken and fear fell upon him.
- And the angel told him: “Don’t fear Zechariah, because your prayer was heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear a son for you, and you shall call his name John.
- “And he will be a source of joy and ecstatic delight for you, and many will rejoice at his birth,
- “for he will be great in the Lord’s sight, and he definitely shouldn’t drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.
- “And he will return many of the sons of Israel to the Lord their God.
- “And he will go before Him in Elijah’s power and spirit to return the fathers’ hearts to the children,1quotation/allusion to Malachi4:5-6 and the disobedient to the prudence of the righteous, to make ready a people *prepared for the Lord.”
- And Zechariah said to the angel: “By what sign will I know this? For I’m an old man and my wife is *advanced in her years.
- And answering, the angel told him: “I am Gabriel who has stood before God, and I was sent to speak to you and to announce these glad tidings to you.
- “And behold, you will be silent and not able to speak until that day when these things happen, because you didn’t believe my words which will be fulfilled in their season.”
- And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and were marveling at the delay in his temple service.
- And having gone out, he wasn’t able to speak to them. And they recognized that he has seen a vision in the temple. And he was signing to them and was remaining mute.
- And it happened that when the days of his priestly service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
- Now after these days, his wife Elizabeth conceived and was hiding herself for five months, saying:
- “Thus the Lord has done for me in the days in which He favorably regarded me, to cut off my disgrace among men.”
Jesus birth foretold
- Now, in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee which had the name Nazareth,
- to a virgin *betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, from the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary.
- And having come to her, he said: “Greetings, you have been given grace. The Lord is with you. [You have been blessed among women.]
- Yet she was perplexed and deeply shaken2“perplexed and deeply shaken” this is one word in Greek, which refers to inner agitation that produces confusion and troubles the person. by the statement, and was confusedly pondering what kind of greeting this may be.
- And the angel told her: “Don’t be frightened Mary, for you found grace with God.
- “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and will bear a son, and you shall call His name Jesus.
- “He will be great, and will be called Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David.
- “And He will rule over the house of Jacob through the ages, and there won’t be an end to His kingdom.”
- And Mary said to the angel: “How will this be? Since I’m not knowing a man intimately.”
- And answering, the angel told her: “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And for this reason, the holy child born will be called the Son of God.
- “And behold your relative Elizabeth; she also has conceived a son in her old age. And this is the sixth month for the woman called ‘barren’,
- “because no word from God will be impossible.”
- And Mary said: “Behold, the Lord’s slave; may it happen to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.
Mary visits Elizabeth
- And having arisen in those days, Mary travelled into the hill country with enthusiastic haste, into a city of Judah.
- And she entered into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth.
- And it happened that when Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leapt. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit,
- and she called out with a loud outcry and said: “You are *blessed among women and *blessed is the fruit of your womb!
- “And from where was this honor bestowed on me, that the mother of my Lord might come to me?
- “For behold, when the voice of your greeting entered into my ears, the baby in my womb leapt in ecstatic delight.
- “And blessed is the woman who believed that there will be a fulfillment to the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord.”
- And Mary said: “My soul magnifies the Lord,
- “and my spirit jumped for joy in God my savior,
- “because He looked with favor on the humiliation of His slave. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed,
- “because the Mighty One did great things for me, and holy is His name.
- “And His mercy lasts for generations and generations to the men fearing Him.3quotation/allusion to Psalm 103:17
- “He did a mighty work by His arm, He scattered those who were haughty in the reasoning of their heart.
- “He tore down rulers from thrones and raised up the humble.
- “He filled hungry men with good things, and sent away rich men empty.
- “He helped His servant boy Israel in remembrance of His mercy,
- “just as He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed through the age.”
- And Mary stayed with her for about three months and then returned to her home.
John is born
- Now for Elizabeth, the time for her to give birth was completed and she bore a son.
- And her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord magnified His mercy with her, and they were rejoicing with4“rejoicing with” could also mean “congratulating”; either meaning or both could be intended. her.
- And it happened that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they were calling him Zechariah after the name of his father.
- And answering, his mother said: “Absolutely not. Rather, he will be called John.”
- And they said to her: “There’s no one from your family who is called by this name.”
- And they were gesturing to his father to learn what he may want him to be called.
- And having requested a writing tablet, he wrote saying: “His name is John.” And they all marveled.
- And instantly his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he was speaking, blessing God.
- And fear came upon all the men neighboring them, and all these words were being discussed in the whole hill country of Judea.
- And all the men who heard it put it in their heart, saying: “So then, what will this child be?” For also, the Lord’s hand was with him.
Zechariah prophesies
- And his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied, saying:
- “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel because He looked after and made redemption5“redemption” this Greek word properly refers to paying the price needed to release someone from prison or debt, and especially the price paid to free a slave. for His people,
- “and He raised a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant boy David,
- “just as He spoke through the mouth of His holy prophets from of old:
- “salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all the men hating us6“quotation/allusion to Psalm 106:10
- “to accomplish mercy with our fathers and to remember His holy covenant,
- “to grant us the oath that He swore to our father Abraham,
- “that having been rescued from the hand of our enemies, we would be able to serve Him without fear
- “in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.
- “And you child, you will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,7quotation/allusion to Malachi 3:1
- “to offer knowledge of salvation to His people by the forgiveness of their sins.
- “through the compassionate tender mercies of our God, by which He will look after us like a sunrise from on high,
- “to illuminate the men in darkness and those sitting in the shadow of death,8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 9:2 to make straight our feet in the way of peace.”
- Now, the child was growing and was strengthening in spirit, and he was in the wilderness places until the day of his proclamation to Israel.
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Luke Chapter 2
Jesus is born
- Now in those days, it happened that an edict went out from Caesar Augustus to register all of the inhabited world.1“inhabited world” is one word in Greek, and is more literally “the world inhabited by Romans”. This Greek word originally referred to those who lived in Greece, excluding all others. Later – after they were absorbed into the Roman Empire – it came to mean those who lived in the Roman Empire, excluding those outside it. However, it’s occasionally used in a broader context to mean the entire inhabited world.
- This was the first registration that happened during Quirinius’s governing Syria.
- And all were going to be registered, each man to his own city.
- And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth into Judea, into the city of David which is called Bethlehem because of him being from David’s house and lineage,
- to register with Mary, the woman who was *betrothed to him, her being pregnant.
- And when they are there, it happened that the days for her to give birth were completed.
- And she gave birth to her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger because there wasn’t a place for them in the inn.
Shepherds and angels
- And some shepherds were in the same region, spending the night in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.
- And an angel of the Lord stood over them, and the Lord’s glory shone around them, and they were frightened with great fear.
- And the angel told them: “Don’t fear, for behold; I am proclaiming good news to you of great joy which will be for all the people,
- “because a savior was born for you today in David’s city, who is the Anointed, the Lord.
- “And this will be the sign for you: you will find a baby *wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
- And suddenly, a multitude of the heavenly army was with the angel, praising God and saying:
- “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among the men who please Him.2“who please Him” is literally “of His good pleasure” or “of His delight”, and such good pleasure is caused by living lives that are pleasing to Him. It should be noted that grammatically in Greek, the peace is only wished on those “who please Him”, and not on all men generally.
- And it happened that when the angels departed from them into heaven, the shepherds were saying to one another: “We should definitely go as far as Bethlehem and see this thing which *happened, which the Lord made known to us!”
- And having hastened, they went and found both Mary and Joseph, and also the baby lying in the manger.
- And having seen this, they made it known about the matter which was spoken to them concerning this child.
- And all the men who heard marveled concerning the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
- But Mary was keeping all these matters to herself, pondering them in her heart.
- And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God on account of all the things which they heard and saw, just as it was told to them.
Jesus in the temple as an infant
- And when the eight days before His circumcision3quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:3 were completed, then His name was called Jesus; the name He was called by the angel before His conception in the womb.
- And when the days of their purification were completed according to the law of Moses,4quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:4-6 they brought Him up into Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord,
- (just as it’s *written in the Lord’s law that: “Every male opening a womb shall be called holy to the Lord“)5quotation/allusion to Numbers 3:13
- and to offer a sacrifice according to what was *spoken in the law of the Lord; a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.6quotation/allusion to Leviticus 12:8
- And behold, a man was in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
- And it was *revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he wasn’t to see death before he saw the Lord’s Anointed.
- And led by the Spirit, he came into the temple when the parents of the child also brought Jesus to do for Him according to what was *customary under the law.
- And he welcomed Him into his arms, and blessed God, and said:
- “Master, now you are dismissing your slave in peace according to your word,
- “because my eyes saw your salvation
- “which you prepared before the face of all peoples;
- “a light for the revelation to the gentiles and the glory of your people, Israel.”
- And His father and mother were marveling on account of the things said about Him.
- And Simeon blessed them and told His mother Mary: “Behold, this One is appointed for the ruin and resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign to be hostilely disputed.
- “And also, a large sword will go through your own soul, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed.”
- And there was a prophetess; Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was greatly *advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years after her virginity ended.
- And she was a widow until 84 years old, who wasn’t departing from the temple, serving night and day with fastings and prayers.
- And having been present at that hour, she was giving thanks to God and was speaking about Him to all the men expectantly waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
- And when they accomplished all things according to the Lord’s law, they returned to Galilee, into their city Nazareth.
Jesus in the temple as a boy
- Now, the child was growing and was becoming strong, being filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was upon Him.
- And His parents were traveling to Jerusalem every year for the feast of the Passover.
- And when He became twelve years old, they go up according to the custom of the feast.
- And having finished the days of the feast, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem during their return, but His parents didn’t know.
- And having thought Him to be in their caravan, they went a day’s journey and were carefully seeking Him among their relatives and acquaintances.
- And having not found Him, they returned to Jerusalem, carefully seeking Him.
- And it happened that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and questioning them.
- And all the men listening to Him were marveling on account of His understanding and answers.
- And having seen Him, they were dumbfounded. And His mother said to Him: “Child, why did you do this to us? Behold, your father and I were being tormented while we were seeking you.”
- And He said to them: “Why7Literally “because why” were you seeking Me? Hadn’t you known that it’s necessary for Me to be in My Father’s house?”
- And they didn’t understand the statement that He spoke to them.
- And He went down with them and came into Nazareth, and He was submitting Himself to them. And His mother was carefully keeping all these matters in her heart.
- And Jesus was advancing in wisdom, and maturity, and grace with God and men.
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Luke Chapter 3
John the Baptizer’s message
- Now, in the fifteenth year of Tiberius Caesar’s reign – with Pontius Pilate governing Judea and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip his brother being tetrarch over the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias being tetrarch of Abilene –
- during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, God’s word came to Zechariah’s son John in the wilderness.
- And he went into all the region neighboring the Jordan River, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,
- as it’s *written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice crying in the wilderness: prepare the Lord’s way, make His paths straight.”
- “Every valley will be filled and every mountain and hill will be brought low; and the crooked will be straight, and the rough ways made into smooth ways.
- “And all flesh will see the salvation of God.”1quotation/allusion to Isaiah 40:3-5
- So he was telling the crowds traveling out to be baptized by him: “You offspring of vipers, who forewarned you to flee from the wrath about to come.
- “Therefore, produce fruit befitting repentance. And don’t begin to say in yourselves: ‘We have Abraham as a father’, for I tell you that God is able to raise up children for Abraham from these stones.
- “And also, the axe is already laid near the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree not producing good fruit is cut off and thrown into the fire.”
- And the crowds were questioning him, saying: “So what should we do?”
- And answering, he was telling them: “Let the man having two tunics share with the man not having one, and let the man having food do the same.”
- And also, some tax collectors came to be baptized and they said to him: “Teacher, what should we do?”
- And he said to them: “Collect nothing more beyond the tax *prescribed for you to collect.”
- And also some men serving as soldiers were asking him, saying: “What should we also do?” And he told them: “You should extort or intimidate2“extort or intimidate” is one word in Greek which can mean either, thus both definitions were included. Further, “intimidate” would mean in the sense of using the threat of force to induce unlawful compliance. no man, nor should you falsely accuse or defraud3“falsely accuse or defraud” is one word in Greek which can mean either, thus both definitions were included. anyone. Also, be satisfied with your wages.”
- And the people are expectantly waiting, and all are reasoning in their hearts about John, whether or not he may be the Anointed.
- John answered, saying to all: “I indeed baptize you with water, but One mightier than I is coming; He whom I’m not worthy to untie the strap of His sandals. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.
- “He whose winnowing fork4“winnowing fork” is a literal translation of the Greek word here. A “winnowing fork” is used for “winnowing”. Winnowing is the process of separating the useful/edible grain from the useless chaff. Chaff is the husks and stem fragments of a grain plant that are useless for anything. You “winnow” by using a winnowing fork to throw the mixture up into the air. The wind blows away the lighter chaff, while the heavier grain falls back down to be collected. This process was done on a “threshing floor”, which had to be cleaned prior to use because food was prepared (winnowed) there. is in His hand to thoroughly cleanse His threshing floor and to gather His wheat into His barn; but the chaff He will burn with unquenchable fire.”
- So exhorting them with many other things, he was proclaiming the good news to the people.
- But Herod the tetrarch, being convicted by him concerning Herodias (the wife of his brother) and concerning all the evils that Herod did,
- he also added this on top of all: he confined John in prison.
The baptism and genealogy of Jesus
- Now, it happened that among the baptisms of all the people, Jesus was also baptized. And while praying, heaven was opened
- and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him in bodily form like a dove, and a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son. In you I am well-pleased.”
- And Jesus was about thirty years old when beginning His ministry, being – as it was supposed – a son of Joseph, son of Heli,
- son of Matthat, son of Levi, son of Melchi, son of Jannai, son of Joseph,
- son of Mattathias, son of Amos, son of Nahum, son of Esli, son of Naggai,
- son of Maath, son of Mattathias, son of Semein, son of Joseph, son of Judah,
- son of Joanan, son of Rhesa, son of Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, son of Neri,
- son of Melchi, son of Addi, son of Cosam, son of Elmadam, son of Er,
- son of Joshua, son of Eliezer, son of Jorim, son of Matthat, son of Levi,
- son of Simeon, son of Judah, son of Joseph, son of Jonam, son of Eliakim,
- son of Melea, son of Menna, son of Mattatha, son of Nathan, son of David,
- son of Jesse, son of Obed, son of Boaz, son of Salmon, son of Nahshon,
- son of Amminadab, [son of Admin,] son of Ram,5“Ram” some of the manuscripts which “son of Admin” have “Arni” instead of Ram son of Hezron, son of Perez, son of Judah.
- son of Jacob, son of Isaac, son of Abraham, son of Terah, son of Nahor,
- son of Serug, son of Reu, son of Peleg, son of Herber, son of Shelah.
- son of Cainan, son of Arphaxad, son of Shem, son of Noah, son of Lamech,
- son of Methuselah, son of Enoch, son of Jared, son of Mahalaleel, son of Cainan,
- son of Enosh, son of Seth, son of Adam, son of God.
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Luke Chapter 4
The temptation of Jesus
- And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was being led by the Spirit into the wilderness
- for forty days, being tempted by the Accuser.1“Accuser” The Greek word used here is “διάβολος” (diabolos), and it’s the root of our English word “devil”. Much like “Christ” (see note on Matt 1:1) it isn’t a name but a descriptive title. And He ate nothing in those days, and having completed them, He hungered.
- And the Accuser said to Him: “If you are God’s Son, command this stone so it might become bread.”
- And Jesus answered to him: “It is *written that: Man shall not live on bread alone, [but on every word from God.]“2quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 8:3
- And having led Him [up to a high mountain], [the Accuser] showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a single moment of time.
- And the Accuser said to Him: “I will give authority over all this to you, and its glory, because it has been handed over to me and I could give it to whomever I desire.
- “Therefore, all this will be yours if you worship before me.”
- And answering, Jesus told him: “It is *written: You shall worship the Lord your God and you shall serve Him only.”3quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 10:20 and Deuteronomy 6:13[
- And he led Him to Jerusalem, and stood Him on the pinnacle of the temple, and told Him: “If you are God’s Son, throw yourself down from here.
- “For it is *written that: “He will give orders to His angels concerning you, to carefully guard you.”4quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:11
- Also, “They will raise you up on their hands, so you don’t ever strike your foot against a stone.”5quotation/allusion to Psalm 91:12
- And answering, Jesus told him: “It has been spoken: You shall not test the Lord your God.”6quotation/allusion to Deuteronomy 6:16
- And having finished every temptation, the Accuser departed from Him until an opportune time.
Jesus is rejected in His hometown
- And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee and a report about Him went out into the whole neighboring region.
- And He was teaching in their synagogues, being esteemed by all.
- And He came to Nazareth where He was *raised. And according to His *custom, He entered into the synagogue on a Sabbath day7“Sabbath day” is literally “day of the Sabbaths” and stood up to read.
- And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to Him. And having unrolled the scroll, He found the place where it was *written:
- “The Lord’s Spirit is upon Me, because of which He anointed Me to proclaim the good news to the poor. He has sent Me [to heal the *crushed in heart], to proclaim a pardon to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind; to release the *oppressed with a pardon,
- “to proclaim a year of the Lord’s favor.”8quotation/allusion to Isaiah 61:1-2
- And having rolled up the scroll, He handed it to the synagogue attendant. He sat down and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixing on Him.
- And He began to say to them: “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
- And all were testifying about Him and were marveling at the graceful words coming from His mouth. And they were saying: “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”9“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?”. The negation in this phrase is emphatic.
- And He said to them: “Doubtless you will quote this proverb to Me: Physician, heal yourself. Whatever we heard of that’s happening in Capernaum, also do it here in your hometown.”
- But He said: “Amen I tell you that no prophet is acceptable in his hometown.
- “But in truth I tell you that there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when heaven was shut up for three years and six months,10quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 17:1 when a great famine happened on all the land.
- “And Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath of the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. 11quotation/allusion to 1 Kings 17:9
- “And there were many lepers in Israel during the time of Elisha the prophet and not one of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.” 12quotation/allusion to 2 Kings 5:1-14
- And hearing these things, all in the synagogue were filled with rage.
- And having risen, they threw Him out of the city and led Him away as far as the ridge of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.
- But having walked through their midst, He was departing.
Jesus casts out a demon
- And He went down into Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbaths.
- And they were stunned by His teaching because His message was with authority.
- And a man having the spirit of an unclean demon was in the synagogue, and he cried out in a loud voice:
- “Ah!13“Ah!” An expression of surprise, fear, and sometimes indignation. What’s between us and you Jesus of Nazareth? Did you come to destroy us? I *know who you are: the Holy One of God!”
- And Jesus rebuked him, saying: “Be silent and come out of him.” And the demon having thrown him into their midst, it came out of him; not having injured him at all.
- And astonishment came upon all of them, and they were discussing with one another, saying: “What a word this is, because He commands the unclean spirits in authority and power, and they come out!”
- And a report about Him was spreading abroad into every area of the neighboring region.
Jesus heals Peter’s mother-in-law and many others
- And having risen from the synagogue, He entered into the house of Simon. Now, Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they requested of Him concerning her.
- And having stood over her, He rebuked the fever and it left her. And having instantly arisen, she was serving them.
- And during the setting of the sun, all who had anyone sick with various diseases brought them to Him. And putting His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.
- And demons were also going out from many, crying out and saying: “You are the Son of God.” And rebuking them, He wasn’t allowing them to speak because they had known Him to be the Anointed.
- And having gone out when it became day, He traveled into a solitary place and the crowds were seeking Him. And they came to Him and were holding Him back so He wouldn’t depart from them.
- But He said to them: “It’s necessary for Me to proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to other cities too, because I was sent on account of this.
- And He was proclaiming in the synagogues of Judea.
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Luke Chapter 5
Jesus calls Simon Peter
- Now, it happened during the crowd’s pressing on Him to also hear the word of God, that He was *standing beside the lake of Gennesaret.
- And He saw two boats *standing beside the lake. And having disembarked from them, the fishermen were washing the nets.
- And having embarked into one of the boats – which was Simon’s – He asked him to put out to sea a short distance from the land. And having sat down, He was teaching the crowds from the boat.
- And when He ceased speaking, He said to Simon: “Put out into the deep water and lower your nets for a catch.”
- And answering, Simon said: “Master, we caught nothing despite having exhausted ourselves working through the whole night. But on account of your word, I will lower the nets.”
- And having done this, they enclosed an enormous multitude of fishes, and their nets were tearing.
- And they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come assist them. And they came and filled both boats so they both almost began to sink.
- And having seen this, Simon Peter fell down before Jesus’s knees, saying: “Go away from me Lord, because I’m a sinful man.”
- For astonishment had gripped him and all the men with him on account of the catch of fish which they took,
- and James and John – the sons of Zebedee who were partners with Simon – were also likewise astonished. And Jesus said to Simon: “Don’t be frightened; from now on you will be catching men.”
- And having beached the boats on the land and left all of it behind, they followed Him.
Jesus heals a leper
- And it happened during His being in one of the cities that behold: there was a man full of leprosy. And having seen Jesus and fallen on his face, he begged Him saying: “Lord you are able to cleanse me if you want to.”
- And having extended His hand, He touched him, saying: “I want to; be cleansed.” And the leprosy immediately departed from him.
- And He instructed him to tell no one, but said: “Having departed, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifice concerning your cleansing, just as Moses commanded1quotation/allusion to Leviticus 14:1-32 for a testimony to them.
- But the report about Him was spreading more, and many crowds were coming together to hear Him and to be healed from their sicknesses.
- Yet He was withdrawing into the wilderness places and praying.
Jesus forgives sins and heals a paralyzed man
- And it happened during one of the days that He was teaching, that sitting nearby were some Pharisees and teachers of the law who were *coming from every village of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem. And the Lord’s power was there for Him to heal.
- And behold: there are men carrying a man on a bed-mat who was *paralyzed, and they were seeking to carry him in and to put him before Him.
- And not having found a way they might carry him in because of the crowd, having gone up onto the roof, they lowered him with the bed-mat through the roofing tiles into the crowd’s midst before Jesus.
- And having seen their faith, He said: “Man, your sins have been forgiven you.”
- And the scribes and Pharisees began to reason, saying: “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who is able to forgive sins except God alone?”
- And having known their reasonings, answering Jesus said to them: “Why do you reason in your hearts?
- “Which is easier to say: ‘Your sins have been forgiven you’, or to say: ‘Rise and walk’?
- “But so you might *know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins–” He said to the *paralyzed man: “–I tell you: rise; and having picked up your bed-mat, go to your house.”
- And having instantly risen before them and having picked up the bed-mat on which he was lying, he departed to his house, glorifying God.
- And astonishment seized all, and they were glorifying God and were filled with reverent fear, saying: “We saw wonderfully strange things today.”
Jesus calls Levi (Matthew)
- And after these things, He went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax collector’s booth and said to him: “Follow Me.”
- And having abandoned everything2“everything” is literally “all things“ and risen, he was following Him.
- And Levi made a great feast for Him in his house, and there was a large crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them at the table.
- And the Pharisees and their scribes were grumbling at His disciples, saying: “Why are you eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?”
- And answering, Jesus said to them: “The healthy men have no need of a physician, but the sick men do.
- “I haven’t come to call righteous men, but sinful men to repentance.”
- And they said to Him: “John’s disciples are frequently fasting and doing prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do likewise. But your disciples are eating and drinking.”
- And Jesus said to them: “You aren’t able to make the groomsmen3 “groomsmen” is literally “sons of the bridal chamber”. In that age, this referred to the men who helped the groom prepare whatever was needed for the wedding, especially the “bridal chamber” (honeymoon suite). The closest modern equivalent is groomsmen. fast while the bridegroom is with them, are you?
- “But the days will also come when the bridegroom was taken away from them; then they will fast in those days.”
- And He was also telling a parable to them: “Having torn a patch from a new garment, no one puts it on an old garment. And if he does otherwise, the new will also tear and the old garment won’t match the patch from the new.
- “And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. And if he does otherwise, the new wine will tear the wineskins and it will be spilled out, and the wineskins will be ruined.
- “But new wine must be put into new wineskins.
- “And having drunk the old wine, no one wants the new; for he says ‘The old is better’.”
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Luke Chapter 6
Lord of the Sabbath
- Now, it happened on a Sabbath that He went to pass through some grain fields and His disciples were picking and were eating the heads of grain, rubbing the kernels out of the husks in their hands.
- But some of the Pharisees said: “Why are you doing what isn’t lawful to do on the Sabbaths?”
- And answering them, Jesus said: “Did you not even read about this? About what David himself did when he hungered, he and the men with1“the men with” is literally: “the men being with” him?
- “How he entered into the house of God, and having taken the consecrated bread of the presence, he ate it and gave it to the men with him, bread which isn’t lawful to eat except for the priests only.”
- And He was telling them: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
- Now, it happened on another Sabbath that He entered into the synagogue to teach there, and a man was there and his right hand was withered.
- And the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He heals on the Sabbath so they might find a charge to accuse Him.
- Yet He had known their reasonings and He told the man having the withered hand: “Rise and stand in the middle of the room.” And having risen, he stood there.
- And Jesus said to them: “I ask you if it’s lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil? To save a life or to destroy it?”
- And having looked around at all of them, He told him: “Extend your hand.” And the man did, and his hand was restored.
- And they were filled with irrational rage and were discussing to one another what they may do to Jesus.
Choosing the Apostles
- Now, it happened in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray and was spending the whole night in prayer to God.
- And when it became day, He summoned His disciples and chose twelve from among them whom He also named as apostles:
- Simon (whom He also named Peter) and Andrew his brother; and James and John; and Philip and Bartholomew;
- And Matthew and Thomas; and James son of Alphaeus; and Simon, the man called a Zealot;
- And Judas son of James; and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.
Blessings and cursings
- And having descended with them, He stood on a flat place. And there was a numerous crowd of His disciples and a numerous multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon
- who came to listen to Him and to be healed of their diseases, and the men troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.
- And everyone in the crowd was seeking to touch Him because power was coming out from Him and was healing all of them.
- And He, having lifted His eyes upon His disciples, He was saying: “Blessed are the poor because the kingdom of God is yours.
- “Blessed are the men hungering now because you will be filled. Blessed are the men weeping now because you will laugh
- “You are blessed when men hate you, and when they ostracize you, and disgrace and accuse2 “disgrace and accuse” is one word in Greek. It can mean either, but both definitions were included because they both fit the context and it seems likely that both were intended. you, and banish your name as evil on account of the Son of Man.
- “Rejoice in that day and jump for joy, for behold: your reward is numerous in heaven, for the forefathers were doing these things3“these things” is literally “them” to the prophets in the same manner.
- Moreover, woe to you rich men because you are receiving4“you are receiving” This Greek word contains the sense of receiving something because you are far away from something else. your comfort now.
- “Woe to you men who have satisfied yourselves now because you will hunger. Woe to men laughing now because you will mourn and you will weep.
- “Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for the forefathers were doing these things5“these things” is literally “them” to the false prophets in the same manner.
Love your enemies
- “But I say to you men hearing this: ^Love your enemies, do good to the men hating you,
- “bless the men cursing you, pray for the men slandering you.
- “To the man striking you on the cheek, also offer the other cheek. And the man taking your cloak away from you, also don’t withhold your tunic.
- “Give to every man asking of you and don’t demand back from the man taking what’s yours.
- “And exactly as you desire that men would do to you, do the same to them.
- “And if you ^love the men ^loving you, what grace6“grace” The Greek word here is “χάρις” (charis), most often translated “grace” or “gift”. It was a technical term in the 1st century, referring to the Patronage system in place. The Patron (from “pater” = “father”) would give gifts or do favors (both called a charis) for someone. A charis was always given/done freely to anyone who would be grateful for it, and this person then became a “client” of the patron. The clients were expected to reciprocate by telling everyone what the patron had done, and offering their services to the patron whenever the patron needed them. This reciprocal act was also called “charis”, and the ones who reciprocated were “being faithful”. Both were done out of gratitude, not legal obligation. A client who wasn’t faithful and grateful probably wouldn’t receive any more charis from his patron, or any other patrons. The patron was responsible for taking care of all his clients, and making sure their needs were met. Christian Grace and Faith is well picture by this system. The Heavenly Patron (God the Father) freely gave a gift (Jesus’ blood), and the clients who accept it (Christians) are expected to “be faithful” out of gratitude. is it to you? For even sinful men ^love the men ^loving them.
- “For also, if you do good to the men doing good to you, what grace is it to you? Even sinful men do the same.
- “And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what grace is it to you? Even sinful men lend to sinners so they might recover back identical amounts.
- “Moreover, ^love your enemies, and do good to them, and lend without expecting interest and your reward will be numerous and you will be sons of the Most High, because He is benevolent towards the ungrateful and wicked.
- “Be merciful just as your Father is also merciful.
Don’t Judge
- “And don’t judge and you definitely won’t be judged, and don’t condemn and you definitely won’t be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven.
- “Give and it will be given to you; they will give a good measure into your bosom, *pressed-down, *shaken to compact it, and overflowing. For by whichever measure you measure, it will be measured back to you.”
- And He also told a parable to them: “A blind man isn’t able to lead a blind man, is he? Won’t they both certainly fall into a pit?
- “A disciple isn’t above the teacher, yet everyone will be like his teacher when properly *prepared.
- “And why do you look at the splinter in your brother’s eye and not notice the log in your own eye?
- “How are you able to tell your brother: ‘Brother, allow me to cast out the splinter in your eye’ while you yourself aren’t seeing the log in your eye? You hypocrite; first cast out the log in your eye and then you will see clearly to take out the splinter in your brother’s eye.
Know them by their fruit
- “For there’s no lovely tree producing rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree producing lovely fruit,
- “for each tree is known by its own fruit. For they don’t collect figs from brambles nor gather grapes from a thorn bush, do they?
- “The good man produces what’s good from the good treasure of his heart, and the wicked man produces what’s wicked from his wicked heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.
- “And why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord’, and don’t do what I say?
- “Every man coming to Me, and hearing My words, and doing them, I will show7“show” could also be translated “warn” or “forewarn” you whom he is like.
- “He is like a man building a house who dug, and excavated, and laid a foundation on a rock. And a flood having happened, the floodwater burst against that house and wasn’t strong enough to shake it because it was well *built.
- “But the man who heard and didn’t do it, he is like a man who built a house on earth without a foundation, against which the floodwater burst and it immediately fell, and the fracturing of that house became great.
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Luke Chapter 7
The centurion’s faith
- When He completed all His words in the hearing of the people, He entered into Capernaum.
- Now, a centurion’s slave who was precious to him was about to die, having a sickness.
- And having heard about Jesus, he sent some elders of the Jews to Him, pleading Him so that having come, He might save his slave.
- And having come near to Jesus, they were insistently begging Him, saying that: “The man to whom you will bestow this favor is worthy,
- “for he ^loves our nation and he built the synagogue for us.”
- And Jesus was going with them. And when He was already not far away from the house, the centurion sent friends saying to Him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I’m not worthy that you might enter in under my roof.
- “Therefore, neither did I deem myself worthy to come to you, but merely speak a word and let my servant be healed.
- “For I’m also a man appointed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this soldier: ‘Go’, and he goes; and to another: ‘Come’, and he comes; and to my slave: ‘Do this’, and he does it.
- And having heard these things, Jesus marveled at him. And having turned to the crowd following Him, He said: “I tell you, not even in Israel did I find such great faith.”
- And having returned to the house, the men who were sent found the slave healthy.
Raising a widow’s son from the dead
- And it happened on the next day that He traveled into a town called Nain and His disciples were traveling with Him, and a numerous crowd as well.
- And as He approached the gate of the town, also behold: a *dead man was being carried out for burial, the only son of his mother and she was a widow. And a considerable crowd from the town was with her.
- And having seen her, the Lord was moved with compassion on her and He told her: “Don’t weep.”
- And having approached, He touched the open coffin1“open coffin” is more literally a “bier”, which is a type of litter used in a funeral to transport dead bodies, or coffins with dead bodies in them and the men carrying it stood still. And He said: “Young man, I tell you, wake up.”2“wake up” could also be translated “rise” or “arise” since the word means all three.
- And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and He gave him to his mother.
- And reverent fear gripped all of them and they were glorifying God, saying that: “A great prophet was raised among us!” and that: “God looked after His people.”
- And this report about Him went out in the whole of Judea and to all the neighboring region.
John the Baptizer’s question
- And to John, his disciples reported concerning all these things.
- And having summoned two of his disciples, John sent them to the Lord, saying: “Are you the coming One,3“The Coming One” There are several Old Testament passages that the Jews believed referred to the messiah, which talk of Him “coming”. (For example, Psalm 118:26, Psalm 40:7-8, and Malachi 3:1). John was probably referring to Zechariah 9:9, which talks about the “coming King”, and in verse 11 speaks of setting prisoners free. Therefore, John was probably asking if Jesus was the messiah, and if so, if he would be freed. or are we looking for another?”
- And having come near to Him, the men said: “John the Baptizer sent us to you, saying: ” Are you the coming One, or are we looking for another?”
- (In that hour, He cured many from chronic diseases and torturous diseases, and evil spirits, and He freely graced many blind men to see.)
- And answering, He said to them: “Go report to John what you saw and heard. The blind are recovering sight, the lame are walking, the lepers are being cleansed, and the deaf are hearing, the dead are being raised, and the poor are being told the good news. 4Verse note: Jesus answered John’s question using a Jewish Rabbinic method called “remez” (or hint). Jesus quotes portions of Isaiah 35:5-6, (blind, lame, deaf), Isaiah 42:6-7 (blind again) and Isaiah 61:1 (good news). All three passages refer to the coming messiah/king, so Jesus was confirming that He was indeed Him. However, in all three passages Jesus left off a part about setting prisoners free. This was likely Jesus telling John that He was indeed the messiah, but also that John wouldn’t be set free. This last part explains the following verse.
- “And blessed is he who doesn’t stumble at Me.”
- And John’s messengers having departed, He began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by wind?”
- “But what did you go out to see? A man *clothed in soft clothes? Behold, the men in glorious clothing and living in excessive luxury are in kingly houses.
- “But what did you go out to see? A prophet? I tell you, yes! And far more than a prophet.
- “This is he about whom it is *written: “Behold; I’m sending out My messenger before your face; he who will prepare your way before you.”
- “I tell you that among men born from women, no one is greater than John. Yet the least in the kingdom of God is greater than him.”
- (And all the people baptized with the baptism of John who heard this, even the tax collectors, declared God to be righteous,
- but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God in themselves, not having been baptized by him.)
- “Therefore, to what will I compare the men of this generation? And to what are they similar?
- “They are similar to small children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, who are saying: “We played the flute for you and you didn’t dance. We cried out in mourning and you didn’t lament”.
- “For John the Baptizer *came neither eating bread nor drinking wine and you say he has a demon.
- “The Son of Man *came eating and drinking and you say: “behold, this man is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.
- “And wisdom was declared righteous by all her children.”
The parable of two debtors
- Now, one of the Pharisees was asking Him so He might eat with him. And having entered into the house of that Pharisee, He reclined at the table.5“recline” is literal. In ancient times, they laid down on a low table to eat. Thus, “reclining” in those days is similar to “sitting down” to share a meal today.
- And behold: there was a sinful woman who was living in the city. And she heard that He is reclining in the house of the Pharisee, so having taken an alabaster bottle of scented oil,
- and having stood behind Him next to His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and was wiping them with the hair on her head, and was kissing His feet, and was anointing them with the scented oil.
- And having seen this, the Pharisee who invited Him spoke inside himself saying: “If this man was really a prophet, He would know who and what kind of person the woman who’s touching Him is, because she is a sinner.”
- And answering, Jesus said to him: “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he says: “Teacher, say it.”
- “There were two debtors to a moneylender. The one debtor owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty.
- “With them not having money to pay, he forgave both their debts. Therefore, which of them will ^love him more?”
- Answering, Simon said: “I suppose that it’s whoever he forgave more.” And He told him: “You judged rightly.”
- And having turned to the woman, He was saying to Simon: “You see this woman? I entered into your house and you didn’t offer Me water on My feet, but she wet My feet with tears and wiped them with her hair.
- “You didn’t give Me a kiss, but she didn’t cease kissing My feet since I entered.
- “You didn’t anoint My head with oil, but she anointed My feet with scented oil.
- “I tell you that for this reason, her many sins have been forgiven because she ^loved much. But he to whom little is forgiven, he ^loves little.”
- And He told her: “Your sins have been forgiven.”
- And the men reclining at the table began to say inside themselves: “Who is this man who even forgives sins?”
- And He said to the woman: “Your faith has saved you, go in peace.”
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Luke Chapter 8
Luke Chapter 9
Luke Chapter 10
Luke Chapter 11
Luke Chapter 12
Luke Chapter 13
Luke Chapter 14
Luke Chapter 15
Luke Chapter 16
Luke Chapter 17
Luke Chapter 18
Luke Chapter 19
Luke Chapter 20
Luke Chapter 21
Luke Chapter 22
Luke Chapter 23
Luke Chapter 24
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