Luke 8 24

Luke 8:24 kjv

And they came to him, and awoke him, saying, Master, master, we perish. Then he arose, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water: and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 8:24 nkjv

And they came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" Then He arose and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water. And they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 8:24 niv

The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

Luke 8:24 esv

And they went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm.

Luke 8:24 nlt

The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and the raging waves. Suddenly the storm stopped and all was calm.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 24 Meaning

Luke 8:24 vividly describes Jesus' immediate and authoritative power over natural elements. While crossing the Sea of Galilee in a boat, a violent storm arose, terrifying His disciples, seasoned fishermen though they were, who believed they were perishing. They urgently awoke Jesus, who was sleeping through the tempest, pleading for deliverance. Upon rising, Jesus directly rebuked the wind and the tumultuous waves, and instantly, a complete calm settled. This miracle profoundly demonstrates Jesus' divine sovereignty, His control over chaos, and challenges the disciples to deepen their understanding of His true identity and authority as God incarnate. It signifies that even in life's most perilous storms, Christ's presence and power bring ultimate peace and salvation.

Luke 8 24 Context

Luke 8:24 occurs within a significant section of Luke's Gospel (8:4-56) that showcases Jesus' manifold authority. Immediately preceding this event are the Parable of the Sower, the interpretation of the parable, the Parable of the Lamp, and the statement about Jesus' true family—all focusing on understanding and responding to the Word of God. The calming of the storm serves as a powerful demonstration of Jesus' authority not just over spiritual understanding and human relationships, but directly over creation itself. This miracle, along with the subsequent exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac, the healing of Jairus's daughter, and the woman with the flow of blood, forms a narrative block emphasizing Jesus' supreme power over nature, demons, disease, and death. For the disciples, it was a pivotal moment forcing them to grapple with the divine identity of the one they followed, contrasting their deep fear and limited understanding with Jesus' serene authority. Historically and culturally, the Sea of Galilee (also known as Lake Gennesaret) was prone to sudden, violent storms due to its geographical depression, surrounded by hills that channeled strong winds. Fishermen, even experienced ones like the disciples, knew the dangers well. This realistic portrayal of the storm's ferocity heightens the impact of Jesus' miraculous calm, implicitly challenging any pagan beliefs about deities, chance, or elemental spirits controlling the weather, establishing Jesus as the sole, ultimate Lord over creation.

Luke 8 24 Word analysis

• And they came to him: Refers to the disciples, indicating their movement toward Jesus, who was undisturbed by the chaos.
• and awoke him: Implies Jesus was in a deep sleep (katheudein), demonstrating His human weariness but also a profound peace that allowed Him to sleep amidst such danger, a peace the disciples lacked.
• saying, Master, master: The repetition (ἐπιστάτα, ἐπιστάτα - epistata, epistata) underscores the disciples' extreme distress and desperate urgency. Luke typically uses epistata for "master" when disciples address Jesus, signifying respect for His authority as a teacher or leader, especially in critical situations.
• we perish: Greek ἀπολλύμεθα (apollumetha) - This is in the present tense, active voice, literally "we are perishing" or "we are dying," highlighting their immediate, imminent sense of destruction and hopelessness. Their physical reality seemed to be one of unavoidable death.
• Then he arose: Simple, immediate action, signifying Jesus' ready response to their plea. He wasn't bothered or slow; He acted promptly.
• and rebuked the wind: Greek ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen) - a strong, authoritative reprimand, typically used for rebuking demons or fever, indicating personal power and direct confrontation with a hostile force. Jesus speaks to nature as if it were a disobedient servant, showing absolute dominion.
• and the raging of the water: Greek κλύδωνος (klydōnos) - means a violent, turbulent surging or swelling of waves. This specifies the destructive intensity of the storm's impact on the water. Jesus controlled both the source (wind) and its effect (waves).
• and they ceased: Greek παύσαντο (pausanto) - simply "stopped," or "came to an end." This emphasizes the instant cessation of the natural forces. There was no gradual winding down; the storm immediately submitted.
• and there was a calm: Greek γαλήνη (galēnē) - signifies a complete tranquility, a perfect peace after the storm. It was not just a lessening of the tempest but an absolute quietness, pointing to a supernatural intervention rather than a natural lull.

Words-group analysis:

• "Master, master, we perish": This phrase captures the stark contrast between the disciples' terror and their perception of Jesus' ultimate authority. It's a cry of human desperation appealing to divine power. Their address is one of urgent dependency.
• "rebuked the wind and the raging of the water": This action showcases Jesus' unique, divine authority over creation. It implies an inherent power not gained or granted, but possessed, allowing Him to speak directly to the elements as if they are personal entities subject to His command.
• "they ceased, and there was a calm": The instantaneous and complete nature of the cessation of the storm underscores the supernatural character of the miracle. It points to a power that does not just influence but commands and fundamentally alters reality, bringing order out of chaos.

Luke 8 24 Bonus section

The profound sleep of Jesus amidst the raging storm (also mentioned in Mark 4:38) serves a powerful theological purpose beyond simply illustrating His humanity. It highlights His divine peace and confidence in His Father's care, standing in stark contrast to the disciples' terror. This provides a tangible example of Isaiah 26:3 – "You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you." His serene sleep implies that His life was completely surrendered to the Father's will, even unto physical death. This passage also sets a theological precedent for understanding Christ's ongoing role as sustainer of the cosmos; just as He spoke a word and brought calm, so He continues to uphold all things by His powerful word (Heb 1:3). The episode functions as a miniature salvation narrative: people facing imminent destruction cry out to God (Jesus), He intervenes with divine power, and brings about deliverance and peace, transforming despair into awe. This foreshadows His greater power over sin and death, offering spiritual "calm" to those lost in the "storms" of life.

Luke 8 24 Commentary

Luke 8:24 is more than a mere demonstration of Jesus' power; it's a profound revelation of His divine identity. The disciples' desperate cry of "we perish" underscores humanity's helplessness in the face of overwhelming natural forces, situations where all human skill and effort are futile. Their awakening of Jesus reveals their faith, however immature, that He was their only hope. Jesus' response is not just a command but an exercise of inherent sovereignty. He "rebuked" the storm, a term typically used for confronting spiritual forces, suggesting that these natural elements are entirely subservient to Him, much like demons. The immediate and absolute calm is a divine signature, paralleling God's actions in the Old Testament where He alone stills the seas. This miracle compelled the disciples to ask, "Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and water, and they obey him?" It pushed them to see beyond Jesus as merely a prophet or great teacher, toward acknowledging His unique, divine authority. For believers, this passage teaches profound lessons: that Christ is present with us even in our most terrifying storms; that our cries for help are heard; that His peace is capable of overwhelming any chaos, both external and internal; and that true faith recognizes His ultimate power and yields to His calm presence amidst life's raging challenges. We are invited to trust not in our ability to navigate the storm, but in the power of the One who commands it.