Luke 5:17 kjv

And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Luke 5:17 nkjv

Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

Luke 5:17 niv

One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick.

Luke 5:17 esv

On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

Luke 5:17 nlt

One day while Jesus was teaching, some Pharisees and teachers of religious law were sitting nearby. (It seemed that these men showed up from every village in all Galilee and Judea, as well as from Jerusalem.) And the Lord's healing power was strongly with Jesus.

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 17 Meaning

This verse sets the immediate scene for Jesus' public ministry, describing Him engaged in teaching. It highlights the significant presence of Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had traveled from various Jewish regions, indicating widespread attention to Jesus' activities. Crucially, it declares that Jesus' teaching and miraculous works were enabled by "the power of the Lord," signifying God's direct, active presence and empowerment for healing the sick.

Luke 5 17 Context

Luke Chapter 5 opens with Jesus calling His first disciples, including Simon Peter, after a miraculous catch of fish, which underscores His divine authority. This is immediately followed by Jesus cleansing a leper and then healing a paralytic's servant. Luke 5:17 then sets the stage for the highly significant healing of the paralytic who is lowered through the roof (Lk 5:18-26). The detailed description of the Pharisees and teachers of the law converging from across Judea and Galilee highlights the widespread attention Jesus' ministry had garnered. Their presence here is not just out of curiosity; it signifies a serious evaluation and implicit challenge by the established religious authorities to Jesus' growing influence and claims. This verse bridges Jesus' earlier demonstrations of power over nature and sickness to a direct confrontation concerning His authority to forgive sins, a power traditionally reserved for God alone. The scene prepares the reader for the ensuing theological conflict. Historically, Pharisees were a prominent Jewish sect known for strict adherence to the Law and oral traditions, often in conflict with Jesus over interpretation and practice. Teachers of the law (scribes) were experts in Jewish law. Their collective presence here underscores the official and extensive scrutiny Jesus was under.

Luke 5 17 Word analysis

• One day: (καὶ ἐγένετο - kai egeneto): A common transitional phrase in Luke, indicating a specific point in the ongoing narrative of Jesus' ministry, rather than a unique event.
• Jesus was teaching: (διδάσκων - didaskōn): An active participle, indicating a continuous or habitual action. Teaching was central to Jesus' ministry, not merely an occasional activity. He taught with inherent authority (Lk 4:32), not just as an expounder of previous rabbinic traditions.
• and Pharisees: (Φαρισαῖοι - Pharisaiōi): From an Aramaic root meaning "separated ones." A significant and influential Jewish religious and political sect. They emphasized strict adherence to the written Torah and an extensive body of oral traditions. They often clashed with Jesus over matters of purity, Sabbath observance, and the interpretation of the Law, rejecting His claim to divine authority.
• and teachers of the law: (νομοδιδάσκαλοι - nomodidaskaloi): Also known as scribes or legal experts. They were professionals skilled in the study, interpretation, and application of Jewish Law (Torah). Often associated with the Pharisees, they held significant religious and social influence. Their presence with the Pharisees implies organized religious observation and scrutiny.
• were sitting there: Indicates a position of observation, evaluation, and possibly judgment. They were not actively participating as disciples but rather observing with critical intent.
• They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem: This detail emphasizes the extensive reach of Jesus' fame and the widespread interest, concern, or alarm He generated among the Jewish leadership. Jerusalem was the religious capital, so their presence signifies an official delegation or representative group, not just local observers. This shows the national scale of His perceived threat or significance.
• And the power: (δύναμις - dynamis): Refers to divine power, inherent ability, might, or supernatural energy. This term is often used in the Gospels for the miraculous works of God. It's not just human strength but the efficacy of God at work.
• of the Lord: (Κυρίου - Kyriou): Refers directly to God, the Father. This emphasizes that Jesus' power and authority originated from God Himself, authenticating His mission.
• was with Jesus: Implies a continuous, active, and direct enabling presence. It signifies divine endowment, a clear attestation that Jesus' actions were God-initiated and God-sustained.
• to heal the sick: (ἰᾶσθαι - iasthai, to heal or cure; ἀσθενεῖν - asthenein, to be weak, sick, infirm): The direct purpose and manifestation of the divine power. Healing demonstrated God's compassion and power over sin and its effects (sickness). For Luke, a physician, this emphasis on physical restoration often parallels spiritual restoration.

• "Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there": This juxtaposition immediately establishes a tension between Jesus' proactive and authoritative teaching, and the religious leaders' posture of passive observation and scrutiny. It signals an impending clash of authorities and theological viewpoints.
• "from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem": This geographical scope indicates the broad impact of Jesus' ministry. It also shows the unified nature of the religious leadership's concern, extending from local provincial areas to the religious heart of Judaism, preparing for a confrontation with established authority.
• "And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick": This is a profound theological statement. It grounds Jesus' ministry in divine authorization and capability. It reveals that His miracles were not mere human feats or benevolent acts, but demonstrations of God's own active presence and endorsement. This phrase provides divine justification for Jesus' unique claims and works, especially important before He exercises authority that would be seen as blasphemous (forgiving sins).

Luke 5 17 Bonus section

• Luke often emphasizes Jesus' healing ministry, fitting his professional background as a physician. This verse aligns with Luke's thematic portrayal of Jesus as the compassionate healer, empowered directly by God.
• The phrase "the power of the Lord" echoes numerous Old Testament passages (e.g., Exod 15:6; Num 14:17-19; Ps 65:6) that describe God's mighty acts of deliverance and creation, thereby linking Jesus' ministry directly to the mighty acts of Yahweh in Israel's history.
• This verse deliberately sets up the conflict that immediately follows in Luke 5:18-26, where Jesus' authority is tested not just over physical sickness but over spiritual sin. The presence of the religious leaders is critical as they witness the miracle but more importantly, hear Jesus claim the right to forgive sins, a claim they considered blasphemous because it encroached upon God's unique prerogative. The divine "power of the Lord" serves to underscore Jesus' justification for such claims.

Luke 5 17 Commentary

Luke 5:17 serves as a vital theological and narrative bridge within Jesus' ministry. It provides the essential backdrop for understanding the divine source of Jesus' authority while highlighting the escalating scrutiny from established religious powers. Jesus, in His characteristic role as a teacher, drew the attention not only of ordinary people seeking truth but also of key figures within the Jewish hierarchy – Pharisees and teachers of the law, who converged from significant regions, including Jerusalem. Their presence underscores a heightened, almost official, level of observation, signaling deep interest and burgeoning opposition to Jesus' growing influence. The profound theological statement, "the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick," clarifies that Jesus' works were not simply extraordinary human feats but were divinely empowered manifestations of God's active presence and will. This direct connection to divine dynamis (power) validated Jesus' teaching and miraculous acts, revealing Him as operating under God's direct commission. This crucial verse perfectly sets the stage for the dramatic events that immediately follow – the healing of the paralytic and the controversial claim of authority to forgive sins – events that would directly challenge the prevailing religious understanding and deepen the conflict with these religious observers.

• Example for personal application: Just as the "power of the Lord was with Jesus," believers are called to remember that God's power is available to them through the Holy Spirit to serve, witness, and live out their faith.
• Example for spiritual context: Understanding Jesus' power came from "the Lord" helps us trust that God is always working through His Son, even when we don't fully comprehend His ways.