Luke 4 41

Luke 4:41 kjv

And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Luke 4:41 nkjv

And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, "You are the Christ, the Son of God!" And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

Luke 4:41 niv

Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Luke 4:41 esv

And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Luke 4:41 nlt

Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 41 Meaning

Luke 4:41 depicts Jesus's continuous ministry of casting out demons. These evil spirits possessed supernatural insight, recognizing and proclaiming Jesus's true identity as the "Christ" (Messiah) and the "Son of God." However, Jesus vehemently silenced them, not allowing their testimony, demonstrating His supreme authority over the spiritual realm and meticulously controlling the revelation of His person and mission. This highlights His unique power and sovereignty, not only over physical ailments but also over the forces of darkness.

Luke 4 41 Context

Luke 4:41 is nestled within the account of Jesus's early ministry in Galilee, specifically following His authoritative teaching and miracles in Capernaum. After miraculously healing Peter's mother-in-law (vv. 38-39) and subsequently healing many who were sick with various diseases and casting out numerous demons (v. 40), this verse specifically addresses the exorcisms. The sequence emphasizes Jesus's unparalleled authority, demonstrating that His power extended beyond physical illness to spiritual bondage. This widespread display of power would have contrasted sharply with any contemporary beliefs or practices of local exorcists, firmly establishing Jesus as distinct and supremely powerful. The actions in Capernaum (v. 31-41) culminate in the people seeking to retain Him, but Jesus states His broader mission to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God in other towns (v. 42-44), highlighting that His power manifestations serve a greater purpose of gospel proclamation.

Luke 4 41 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - kai): This conjunction serves to connect the verse seamlessly with the previous statement, indicating a continuation and consequence of Jesus's prior ministry of healing and casting out demons (v. 40). It implies a continued or additional series of exorcisms.
• devils (δαιμόνια - daimonia): Refers to malevolent evil spirits or demons, often disembodied spiritual beings who seek to afflict or possess humans. This term is distinct from ho diabolos (Satan), referring to his subordinate forces. Luke emphasizes the prevalence of such spiritual oppression in Jesus's time.
• came out (ἐξήρχοντο - exerchonto): The imperfect tense in Greek signifies continuous, repeated, or ongoing action. This conveys that Jesus was constantly and widely engaged in casting out demons, highlighting the pervasive nature of demonic activity and the extent of His deliverances.
• of many (πολλοὶ - polloi): This indicates a significant number of individuals from whom demons were expelled. It underscores the broad reach of Jesus's ministry and the extensive liberation He brought.
• crying out (κραυγάζοντα - kraugazonta): Describes a loud, often public and involuntary outcry, reflecting the demons' distress, fear, and forced departure in the presence of Jesus's undeniable authority. It indicates an open, public submission, though unwillingly.
• saying (λέγοντα - legonta): Introduces the direct speech of the demons, showcasing their supernatural knowledge and direct acknowledgment of Jesus's identity.
• Thou art (Σὺ εἶ - Su ei): This is an emphatic declaration, directly addressing Jesus with an undeniable statement of fact. It implies a direct, emphatic recognition rather than a question or mere possibility.
• Christ (ὁ Χριστός - ho Christos): The Greek equivalent of the Hebrew "Messiah," meaning "Anointed One." This title signifies Jesus's identity as the prophesied deliverer, king, and savior sent by God. The demons identify Him precisely as the long-awaited divine agent.
• Son of God (ὁ Υἱὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ - ho Huios tou Theou): A profound divine title that declares Jesus's unique relationship with God the Father and His essential divine nature. The demons recognized His unique divine authority and personhood, often perceiving truths hidden from human understanding.
• And he rebuked them (Καὶ ἐπιτιμῶν αὐτοῖς - Kai epitimōn autois): "Rebuked" (ἐπιτιμῶν - epitimōn) is a strong verb indicating a stern, authoritative command or censure. Jesus did not negotiate or perform lengthy rituals but silenced them with direct, absolute authority, demonstrating His sovereignty over even their speech.
• suffered them not (οὐκ εἴα - ouk eia): This indicates an explicit prohibition and a firm denial. Jesus actively prevented them from continuing to speak, controlling the narrative and preventing their tainted testimony from misrepresenting His identity.
• to speak (λαλεῖν - lalein): Refers to their act of verbal declaration or disclosure.
• for they knew Him (ὅτι ᾔδεισαν αὐτόν - hoti ēdeisan auton): Provides the explicit reason for Jesus's actions. "Knew" (ᾔδεισαν - ēdeisan) here refers to an immediate, intuitive, and profound knowledge, suggesting they recognized Him not by inference but by His inherent being, contrasting with human struggles to recognize Him.
• to be Christ (τὸν Χριστόν εἶναι - ton Christon einai): Emphasizes the specific nature of their profound knowledge: they knew Him definitively as the Christ, the Messiah. This underlines the supernatural understanding of these entities concerning Jesus's ultimate identity.

Words-group Analysis

• "And devils came out of many, crying out, and saying": This phrase powerfully conveys the dynamic and widespread nature of Jesus's liberating ministry. The ongoing action (imperfect tense of "came out") coupled with the "crying out" emphasizes the public, dramatic, and undeniable triumph of Jesus over spiritual bondage. The vocal reactions of the demons serve as unwilling testimonies to His overwhelming power.
• "Thou art Christ the Son of God": This group of words represents a pivotal theological confession, ironically coming from the very forces hostile to God. It highlights the demons' accurate, supernatural knowledge of Jesus's dual identity as the promised Messiah (Christ) and fully divine (Son of God). This contrasts with the human skepticism or misunderstanding often encountered by Jesus regarding His true identity.
• "And he rebuked them, and suffered them not to speak": This demonstrates Jesus's complete and comprehensive authority. He not only expelled the demons but also silenced them. This is part of the "Messianic Secret" motif, where Jesus controls the narrative of His identity, preventing its premature or distorted announcement by demonic entities. Their proclamation, while accurate, could easily be misunderstood by the crowds, potentially fueling false messianic expectations or associating His authority with dark powers.
• "for they knew Him to be Christ": This explanatory clause provides the crucial reason behind Jesus's command for silence. The demons possessed undeniable knowledge of His Messiahship, yet Jesus prevented their proclamation. This strategic silence ensured that people understood His Messiahship through His holistic ministry—His teachings, suffering, death, and resurrection—rather than solely based on miraculous power or a distorted "testimony" from the spirit world. It protected His identity and mission from misinterpretation.

Luke 4 41 Bonus section

• The stark contrast between the power Jesus exercises and ancient exorcism practices is notable. Unlike rituals that often involved complex incantations, names of deities, or magical formulas, Jesus's exorcisms were immediate and authoritative, usually requiring only a word. This demonstrated His intrinsic power and direct divine authority, rather than reliance on external techniques.
• Luke, in particular, frequently highlights Jesus's confrontations with demonic powers, framing them as a crucial aspect of His messianic role and the inauguration of God's Kingdom. Jesus is portrayed as the Strong Man binding the strong man (cf. Lk 11:20-22), actively reversing the reign of evil.
• The concept of demons possessing knowledge about Jesus (ᾔδεισαν - ēdeisan) indicates a deep, innate spiritual recognition. It implies they understood Jesus's true nature as distinct from merely intellectual or empirical knowledge. Their acknowledgment thus functions as an undeniable, if unwilling, theological validation from the spirit realm.
• The theme of demons being able to confess the true identity of Christ, yet being silenced, underscores the principle that divine truth must be communicated by proper witnesses in a way that truly serves God's redemptive purpose, not by those who are intrinsically opposed to His will, regardless of the accuracy of their words.

Luke 4 41 Commentary

Luke 4:41 serves as a profound testament to Jesus's ultimate authority, extending His dominion beyond the physical realm into the spiritual. Following widespread healings, Jesus's ability to effortlessly cast out "many devils" underlines a crucial aspect of His ministry: the direct confrontation and subjugation of evil. The irony is striking; while many humans grappled with His identity, the demonic forces immediately recognized Him as the "Christ" and "Son of God"—titles asserting His divine Messiahship. Their frantic "crying out" underscores the raw, overwhelming power Jesus wielded. However, Jesus consistently silenced these entities. This wasn't because their confession was untrue, but because the truth coming from them could be misleading or misconstrued. Demons, originating from a kingdom opposed to God's, were unsuitable heralds of the Messiah's true mission. Furthermore, a premature or demonically-announced revelation could incite political expectations of a militant Messiah, diverting from His spiritual redemptive purpose which involved suffering and atonement. Jesus’s action of silencing them therefore exemplifies His sovereignty not just over their presence but even over their words, meticulously orchestrating the unveiling of His identity according to God's precise timetable and plan. It teaches us that authentic spiritual knowledge is distinguished by submission to divine revelation on God's terms, not just by accurate recognition.