Luke 1:2

just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

▾

KJV

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eyewitnesses, and ministers of the word;

ASV

even as they delivered them unto us, who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word,

YLT

as they did deliver to us, who from the beginning became eye-witnesses, and officers of the Word, --

DBT

as those who from the beginning were eye-witnesses of and attendants on the Word have delivered them to us,

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Commentary voices

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Voices5

On this verse

This expression does not fit, so that we may believe it to be more of a ministry of the word seen than heard. But because it signifies not a proleptic verb, but a substantial Verb that was made flesh and dwelt among us, let us understand not a common word, but that heavenly one to which the Apostles ministered. And yet it is read in Exodus, because the people saw the voice of the Lord (Exod. XX, 18): and surely the voice is not seen but heard.

Ambrose of Milan· Commentary on Luke, 397patristic

Related commentary

(Expos. Ev. Luc. l. i. c. i.) For as many among the Jewish people prophesied by inspiration of the Spirit of God, but others were false prophets rather than prophets, so now also have many attempted to write Gospels which the good moneychanger refuses to pass. One gospel is mentioned which the twelve Apostles are said to have written; another Basilides presumed to write; and another is said to have been by Matthias. Now they who have attempted to set forth these things in order have laboured by themselves, and have not succeeded in what they attempted.

Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 397patristic

Even as they delivered them unto us,....

John Gill· Exposition of the Entire Bible, 1771reformed

Even as they delivered them unto us, which from the beginning were eye-witnesses - Probably this alludes to the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, which it is likely were written before St. Luke wrote his, and on the models of which he professes to write his own; and απ αρχης, from the beginning, must mean, from the time that Christ first began to proclaim the glad tidings of the kingdom; and αυτοπται, eye-witnesses, must necessarily signify, those who had been with him from the beginning, and consequently had the best opportunities of knowing the truth of every fact.

Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical

Note, (1.) The apostles were ministers of the word of Christ, who is the Word (so some understand it), or of the doctrine of Christ; they, having received it themselves, ministered it to others, 1 John i. They had not a gospel to make as masters, but a gospel to preach as ministers.

Matthew Henry· Commentary on the Whole Bible, 1710puritan

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Cross-references

22 linked verses

The verses this one reaches12

John 15:27
And you also must testify, because you have been with Me from the beginning.
Acts 26:16
‘But get up and stand on your feet. For I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen from Me and what I will show you.
Hebrews 2:3
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
1 John 1:1–3
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
Acts 1:21–22
Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us,
Acts 1:3
After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
Acts 10:39–41
We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree,
Mark 1:1
This is the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Colossians 1:23–25
if indeed you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope of the gospel you heard, which has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.
1 Peter 5:1
As a fellow elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings, and a partaker of the glory to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:
Luke 24:48
You are witnesses of these things.

10 more linked verses are grouped by book below ↓

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Around this verse

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Rare words are the text's own signal of a deliberate thread — the fewer the occurrences, the more the places it appears belong together.

About this book

The Return of the Prodigal Son — Gustave Doré (engraving, public domain)

Luke — Luke's 'orderly account' (1:3) follows Jesus from Bethlehem through the long travel narrative to Jerusalem and the Emmaus road.

Canon: New Testament
Author: Luke, beloved physician (Col 4:14), travel-companion of Paul
Date: c. AD 60–62

More cross-references10 further linked verses, grouped by book▾ open

Every other verse the study tradition links to this one, in the Bible’s own order. The first links in each book carry a line of their text; every reference opens its full verse page.

Isaiah1

Isaiah 22:4Therefore I said, “Turn away from me, let me weep bitterly! Do not try…

Mark1

Mark 4:14The farmer sows the word.

Acts2

Romans1

Romans 15:16to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in the priestly service…

1 Corinthians2

Ephesians2

1 John1

1 John 2:24As for you, let what you have heard from the beginning remain in you.…

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge; OpenBible.info (CC-BY).

The walk8

Where the connections lead

Two steps out along the cross-reference floor, votes-ranked — destinations reached by more than one path rise (the text's own hubs). Every stop is a page, and every stop travels with its words.

Through
2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty.
leads to
- 1 John 4:14
  And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
  Reached by 2 independent paths from here.
- John 1:14
  The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
- 1 Timothy 1:4
  or devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculation rather than the stewardship of God’s work, which is by faith.
- 1 Corinthians 2:4
  My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
- 1 John 1:1–3
  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
Through
Hebrews 2:3
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,
leads to
- Hebrews 10:28–29
  Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.
- Hebrews 12:25
  See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks. For if the people did not escape when they refused Him who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if…
- Hebrews 5:9
  And having been made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him

The whole web at once: see the Arc.

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