Luke 10:17
in Luke 10The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And the seventy returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject unto us in thy name.
KJV
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
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This verse in Luke 10
Commentary
17 notes on this verseAccording to Christ's declaration, the harvest indeed was great, but the laborers were few. In addition to those first chosen, he appointed seventy others and sent them to every village and city of Judea before his face to be his forerunners and to preach the things that belonged to him.The authority that they carried to rebuke evil spirits and the power of crushing Satan was not given to them that they might be regarded with admiration. It was given to them so that Christ would be glorified by their means.
This site's exposition
the seventy returned again with joy
on Luke 10:17-18
The seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name, an enthusiasm exceeding what he had actually commissioned, since he sent them to heal and preach the kingdom rather than promising them power over devils outright. He answers, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven, and the bench divides over whether this names a vision granted in that moment, the primeval fall of Satan seen afresh, or the ongoing collapse of his kingdom now made visible in the seventy's own small victories, positions held without a verdict forced on the text. Either way the image reads as swift and total rather than gradual, a defeat already certain even while the war continues.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
A commentator
Desert FathersThe Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks · Written before 500.
proposed
Daniel said that in Babylon there was a nobleman's daughter, who was possessed by a devil. Her father asked a monk for help. The monk said to him, 'No one can cure your daughter except some hermits I know: and if you go to them, …
It was said above that our Lord sent forth His disciples sealed with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and that being made ministers of preaching, they received power over the unclean spirits. But now when they returned, they confess the power of Him who honoured them, as it is said, And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us, &c. They seemed indeed to rejoice rather that they were made workers of miracles, than that they had become ministers of preaching. But they had better have rejoiced in those whom they had taken, as St. Paul says to them that were called by him, My joy and my crown. (Phil. 4:1.)
But at the same time He herein consoles His disciples, as if He said, Say not why are we about to suffer reproach. Let your speech be with moderation. I give you grace, upon Me your reproaches fall.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Previously the Evangelist said that the Lord sent seventy disciples, and now he says that they "returned with joy" because they not only healed from various other diseases, but delivered from an even greater evil — from demons. See how far they are from pride; …
Now the seventy-two returned with joy, saying: Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name. They indeed confessed rightly, giving honor to the name of Christ, but because they were still rejoicing in the miracles with weak faith, see what they hear.
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
But they returned etc. After the sending of the companions and the instruction of those going forth, here in the third place is added the consolation of those returning. This part, moreover, has two sections. In the first of which the Lord restrains vain joy …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
); not complaining of the fatigue of their journeys, nor of the opposition and discouragement they met with, but rejoicing in their success, especially in casting out unclean spirits: Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Though only the healing of the sick was mentioned in their commission (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
And the seventy returned again,.... The Syriac version adds, "whom he had sent": these disciples having received orders and instructions from Christ, went as he directed them; and when they had finished their embassy, they returned again to him, and gave him an account of their journey and success.
Christ's discourse with a lawyer concerning the way to heaven, and the instructions Christ gave him by a parable to look upon every one as his neighbour whom he had occasion to show kindness to, or receive kindness from,
The Nineteenth Century5 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
We learn, from this passage — how ready Christians are to be puffed up with success. It is written, that the seventy returned from their first mission with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through your name." There was much false fire in that joy. There was evidently self-satisfaction in that report of achievements. The whole tenor of the passage leads us to this conclusion. The remarkable expression which our Lord uses about Satan's fall from Heaven, was most probably meant to be a caution.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The possession of such power, not being expressly in their commission, as in that to the Twelve (Lu 9:1), filled them with more astonishment and joy than all else. through thy name--taking no credit to themselves, but feeling lifted into a region of unimagined superiority to the powers of evil simply through their connection with Christ.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We learn, from this passage — how ready Christians are to be puffed up with success. It is written, that the seventy returned from their first mission with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject unto us through your name." There was much false fire in that joy. There was evidently self-satisfaction in that report of achievements. The whole tenor of the passage leads us to this conclusion. The remarkable expression which our Lord uses about Satan's fall from Heaven, was most probably meant to be a caution. He read the hearts of the young and inexperienced soldiers before Him. He saw how much they were puffed up by their first victory. He wisely checks them in their undue exultation. He warns there against pride . The lesson is one which all who work for Christ should mark and remember. Success is what all faithful laborers in the Gospel field desire. The minister at home and the missionary abroad, the district visitor and the city missionary, the tract distributor and the Sunday-school teacher — all alike long for success. All long to see Satan's kingdom pulled down, and souls converted to God. We cannot wonder at this. The desire is right and good. Let it, however, never be forgotten, that the time of success is a time of danger to the Christian's soul. The very hearts that are depressed when all things seem against them — are often unduly exalted in the day of prosperity. Few men are like Samson, and can kill a lion without telling others of it. (Judges 14:6.) No wonder that Paul says of an elder, that "He must not be a recent convert — or he may become proud and fall under the same judgment as the devil." (1 Timothy 3:6.) Most of Christ's laborers probably have as much success as their souls can bear. Let us pray much for humility, and especially for humility in our days of peace and success.
The seventy returned again with joy - Bishop Pearce thinks they returned while our Lord was on his slow journey to Jerusalem, and that they had been absent only a few days.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
The devils are subject unto us - The devils obey us. We have been able to cast them out. Through thy name - When commanded in thy name to come out of those who are possessed.
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
Jennifer EivazCan A Christian Be Demon-Possessed? (blog article, JenniferEivaz.com) (2025)
proposed
The truth—and I hope this gives you reasonable assurance—is that demons will only do what we have allowed them to do.
The words behind it
18 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ὑπέστρεψαν | hupestrepsan | Returned | G5290 → | 35 times |
| δὲ | de | then | G1161 → | 2765 times |
| οἱ | hoi | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἑβδομήκοντα | hebdomekonta | seventy | G1440 → | |
| δύο | duo | two | G1417 → | 133 times |
| μετὰ | meta | with | G3326 → | 461 times |
| χαρᾶς | charas | joy | G5479 → | 58 times |
| λέγοντες· | legontes | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| κύριε, | kurie | Lord, | G2962 → | 711 times |
| καὶ | kai | even | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| τὰ | ta | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| δαιμόνια | daimonia | demons | G1140 → | 61 times |
| ὑποτάσσεται | hupotassetai | are subject | G5293 → | 38 times |
| ἡμῖν | hemin | to us | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐν | en | through | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| τῷ | to | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ὀνόματί | onomati | name | G3686 → | 227 times |
| σου. | sou | of You. | G4771 → | 2973 times |
ὙπέστρεψανReturned
hupestrepsanG5290 →35 times
δὲthen
deG1161 →2765 times
οἱthe
hoiG3588 →19766 times
ἑβδομήκονταseventy
hebdomekontaG1440 →
δύοtwo
duoG1417 →133 times
μετὰwith
metaG3326 →461 times
χαρᾶςjoy
charasG5479 →58 times
λέγοντες·saying;
legontesG3004 →1325 times
κύριε,Lord,
kurieG2962 →711 times
καὶeven
kaiG2532 →9120 times
τὰthe
taG3588 →19766 times
δαιμόνιαdemons
daimoniaG1140 →61 times
ὑποτάσσεταιare subject
hupotassetaiG5293 →38 times
ἡμῖνto us
heminG3165 →1936 times
ἐνthrough
enG1722 →2738 times
τῷthe
toG3588 →19766 times
ὀνόματίname
onomatiG3686 →227 times
σου.of You.
souG4771 →2973 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Romans 16:20The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
it leads to
- Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- 1 John 3:8
The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the…
- Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
- Luke 10:19
Through
Mark 16:17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;
it leads to
- John 14:12
Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever believes in Me will also do the works that I am doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Acts 5:16
Crowds also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those tormented by unclean spirits, and all of them were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:28
And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues.
- Acts 8:7
With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- 1 Corinthians 12:10
to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in various tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
- John 14:12
Where this verse is studied
About Luke
This page draws on 16 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Luke; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 10; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 64; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Desert Fathers, The Desert Fathers, Sayings of the Early Christian Monks; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jennifer Eivaz, Can A Christian Be Demon-Possessed? (blog article, JenniferEivaz.com); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke and Titus of Bostra, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.