Luke 7:18 kjv
And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.
Luke 7:18 nkjv
Then the disciples of John reported to him concerning all these things.
Luke 7:18 niv
John's disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them,
Luke 7:18 esv
The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,
Luke 7:18 nlt
The disciples of John the Baptist told John about everything Jesus was doing. So John called for two of his disciples,
Luke 7 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 7:19 | "John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, 'Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?'" | Direct continuation; John's inquiry triggered by the report. |
| Mt 11:2 | "Now when John had heard in prison about the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples..." | Parallel account; confirms John in prison and reason for sending. |
| Lk 7:17 | "And this report about Him went out through all Judea and all the surrounding region." | Preceding verse; indicates widespread news that reached John. |
| Lk 7:22 | "And Jesus answered and said to them, 'Go and tell John the things you have seen and heard...' " | Jesus's response to John's disciples confirming His works. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me..." | Old Testament prophecy fulfilled by John preparing the way. |
| Is 40:3 | "The voice of one crying in the wilderness: 'Prepare the way of the LORD...' " | Prophecy of John's role as forerunner. |
| Lk 1:17 | "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." | Angel's prophecy about John's mission. |
| Jn 1:29 | "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!' " | John's initial recognition and testimony of Jesus. |
| Jn 10:25 | "Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in My Father's name, these bear witness of Me.' " | Jesus's works are testimonies to His identity. |
| Jn 10:38 | "but if I do, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, that you may know and believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him." | The importance of Jesus's works as evidence. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." | Importance of disciples reporting/witnessing. |
| 1 Cor 1:11 | "For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions among you." | Example of important information being reported to leaders. |
| Lk 5:15 | "However, the report went around concerning Him all the more; and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities." | Early widespread fame of Jesus's ministry. |
| Lk 4:14 | "Then Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and news of Him went out through all the surrounding region." | Early spreading of Jesus's reputation. |
| Mk 6:14 | "Now King Herod heard of Him, for His name had become well known." | Jesus's fame reached even Herod, similar to John hearing. |
| 1 Jn 1:3 | "that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ." | Principle of declaring what is seen and heard (witnessing). |
| Deut 18:21-22 | "And if you say in your heart, ‘How shall we know the word which the Lord has not spoken?’ — when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously." | Verifying prophets' claims through their deeds/predictions. |
| Acts 17:11 | "These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so." | The practice of discerning and verifying spiritual claims. |
| Lk 3:19-20 | "But Herod the tetrarch, being rebuked by him concerning Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done, also added this above all, that he shut John up in prison." | Explains why John was imprisoned, confirming his limited contact. |
| Lk 24:34-35 | "saying, 'The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' And they told about the things that had happened on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread." | Example of disciples reporting extraordinary events. |
Luke 7 verses
Luke 7 18 Meaning
Luke 7:18 states that John the Baptist's disciples informed him of all the notable things Jesus was doing. This verse serves as a crucial transition, linking Jesus's powerful works, specifically the resurrection of the widow's son in Nain, to John the Baptist's subsequent inquiry about Jesus's identity as the Messiah. It highlights that even while imprisoned, John remained connected to current events concerning Jesus through his loyal followers, thus setting the stage for one of the most significant direct interactions between Jesus and the forerunner John.
Luke 7 18 Context
Luke 7:18 falls within the broader narrative of Jesus's ministry in Galilee. Immediately prior to this verse (Lk 7:11-17), Jesus has just performed a highly significant miracle: raising the son of a widow in the city of Nain from the dead. This event generated widespread fear and praise for God, with people declaring that "A great prophet has risen among us!" and "God has visited His people!" The news of this extraordinary deed, coupled with Jesus's earlier miracles and teachings, had spread throughout Judea and the surrounding regions (Lk 7:17).
John the Baptist, at this point, is imprisoned by Herod Antipas (Lk 3:19-20) because of John's outspoken condemnation of Herod's immoral marriage. Despite his confinement, John maintained contact with his disciples, who evidently continued to follow events outside the prison. It is into this setting of Jesus's burgeoning fame and John's confinement that Luke 7:18 provides the necessary link, explaining how John came to hear about Jesus's latest, powerful acts, which in turn prompts him to send an inquiry to Jesus regarding His messianic identity. The historical context confirms that prophetic figures like John had followers, and communication within ancient society, while not instant, allowed news of significant events to travel.
Luke 7 18 Word analysis
- And (καί, kai): Connects this verse seamlessly to the previous one (Lk 7:17), showing the cause-and-effect flow of the narrative – the spreading fame of Jesus directly leads to John hearing.
- the disciples (οἱ μαθηταί, hoi mathētai): Refers to the dedicated followers of John the Baptist. In biblical contexts, a disciple is not merely a student but an adherent or imitator of their teacher's doctrines and practices. Their loyalty to John is evident as they continue to minister to him while he is imprisoned.
- of John (Ἰωάννου, Iōannou): Specifies John the Baptist. He is presented here as still holding a position of leadership and receiving updates from his loyal adherents.
- reported (ἀπήγγειλαν, apēngeilan): This verb means to "bring news," "announce," "report," or "declare." It implies a formal and intentional relaying of information, not just casual gossip. The disciples are consciously providing a full account to their master. It highlights their fidelity and purpose.
- to him (αὐτῷ, autō): Refers directly to John the Baptist, indicating that despite his imprisonment, he was not isolated from the outside world. This access enabled him to be informed about Jesus's activities.
- concerning all these things (περὶ πάντων τούτων, peri pantōn toutōn): This phrase is significant. "All these things" (πάντων τούτων) points back to the scope of Jesus's ministry mentioned earlier, particularly the raising of the widow's son in Nain (Lk 7:11-17), but also generally all the mighty works and teachings that contributed to Jesus's spreading fame (Lk 7:17). It implies a comprehensive account of Jesus's power and claims. This phrase emphasizes the cumulative weight of Jesus's actions that reached John.
- Word-group analysis:
- "the disciples of John reported": This group highlights the mechanism of communication. John, as a prominent prophet, had an established group of followers who were loyal and responsible enough to keep him informed, even under difficult circumstances like his imprisonment. Their act of reporting emphasizes the integrity and dissemination of critical information.
- "reported to him concerning all these things": This phrase emphasizes the depth and breadth of the news reaching John. It wasn't merely a single rumor but a summary of Jesus's substantial works, which were clearly significant enough to merit John's serious attention and subsequent inquiry. It demonstrates the profound impact of Jesus's ministry.
Luke 7 18 Bonus section
The seemingly passive receipt of information by John through his disciples sets the stage for a critical theological discussion regarding Jesus's identity and mission. It highlights that even prophetic figures needed factual reports and direct observation (via their proxies) to discern God's unfolding plan. This also implicitly supports the validity of eyewitness testimony and direct reportage in the early Christian narrative, demonstrating how God's revelation spreads. John's imprisonment serves to remove him from direct interaction, thus requiring the faithfulness of his disciples to keep him informed, indirectly confirming their continuing devotion to him and the significance of the news they carried.
Luke 7 18 Commentary
Luke 7:18 is a seemingly simple connective verse, yet it carries profound theological and narrative weight. It bridges the gap between Jesus's powerful demonstration of divine authority, particularly His victory over death in Nain, and John the Baptist's pivotal inquiry. John, the last Old Testament prophet and the divinely appointed forerunner of the Messiah, relies on his faithful disciples for news, even from his prison cell. The detail that "all these things" were reported indicates a full, perhaps accumulated, account of Jesus's powerful works, underscoring the remarkable impact Jesus was making throughout the region. This verse validates the legitimacy of the information reaching John, which subsequently compelled him to send his crucial question to Jesus (Lk 7:19), seeking confirmation of His messianic identity. It underscores that spiritual revelation often interacts with earthly means of communication and faithful reporting, leading to moments of crucial discernment regarding God's work.