Luke 9:2
in Luke 9And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And he sent them forth to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
KJV
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
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This verse in Luke 9
Commentary
12 notes on this verseHence also miracles were added to the holy preachers, so that the power displayed might give faith to their words, and that those who preached new things might do new things. When the world was flourishing, when the human race was increasing, when the flesh was subsisting long in this life, when the abundance of things was overflowing, who upon hearing would believe that there was another life? Who would prefer invisible things to visible things?
This site's exposition
Then Jesus called the Twelve together
on Luke 9:1-2
Jesus gave the Twelve power and authority over all demons and diseases, the same works He had been doing now committed to ordinary men. He sent them to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick, word and work together as in His own ministry.
This site's exposition
to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick
The two tasks match what Jesus Himself has done in chapter 8, preaching the kingdom and healing. Matthew Henry notes that the power to cure made the apostles welcome wherever they came. Cyril says the Giver shared His own glory.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
The grace bestowed upon the holy apostles is worthy of all admiration. But the bountifulness of the Giver surpasses all praise and admiration. He gives them, as I said, his own glory. They receive authority over the evil spirits. They reduce to nothing the pride of the devil that was so highly exalted and arrogant. They render ineffectual the demon's wickedness.
The Lord and Savior, not very long after the beginning of his preaching, called the twelve apostles. He gave the name of apostles to them alone of all his disciples as a special honor. Later he proclaimed seventy others and sent them also out two by two in advance of himself into every place and city where he himself was to come.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Now let us hear what is commanded when the preachers are sent. "Go and preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand." This, dearest brothers, even if the Gospel were silent, the world proclaims. For its ruins are its voices. For the world, which has fallen from its glory after being worn down by so many blows, shows us, as it were, from close at hand, another kingdom that follows. It is already bitter even to those by whom it is loved. Its very ruins proclaim that it should not be loved. For if a shaken house threatened to collapse, whoever lived in it would flee; and one who had loved it while it stood would hasten to withdraw as quickly as possible from it as it falls. If therefore the world is falling and we embrace it by loving it, we wish to be crushed rather than to dwell in safety, because no reasoning separates us from its ruin when love binds us to its sufferings. It is easy, therefore, now when we see all things destroyed, to separate our heart from love of it. But this was most difficult at that time when they were sent to preach the invisible kingdom of heaven while they saw earthly kingdoms flourishing far and wide on every side.
As regards the commission of authority for preaching the mysteries, he adds: And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God. For in the sending, authority is designated, without which no one ought to preach; hence Romans 10: "How shall they preach, unless they …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Christ designed a total rout and ruin to the kingdom of darkness, and therefore gave them power over all devils. He authorized and appointed them likewise to cure disease, and to heal the sick, which would make them welcome wherever they came, and not only convince people's judgments, but gain their affections. This was their commission.
4 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God,....
The Nineteenth Century3 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
These verses contain our Lord's instructions to His twelve apostles, when He sent them forth the first time to preach the Gospel. The passage is one which throws much light on the work of Christian ministers in every age. No doubt the miraculous power which the apostles possessed, made their position very unlike that of any other body of men in the Church. No doubt, in many respects — they stood alone, and had no successors. Yet the words of our Lord in this place must not be confined entirely to the apostles. They contain deep wisdom for Christian teachers and preachers, for all time. Let us observe, firstly — that the commission to the apostles contained special reference to the demons and bodily sickness . We read that Jesus gave them "authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." We see here, as in a looking-glass — two of the principal parts of the Christian minister's business. We must not expect him to cast out evil spirits — but we may fairly expect him to "resist the devil and all his works," and to keep up a constant warfare against the evil prince of this world. We must not expect him to work miraculous cures — but we may expect him to take a special interest in all sick people, to visit them, sympathize with them, and help them, if needful, as far as he can. The minister who neglects the sick members of his flock, is no true pastor. He must not be surprised if people say that he cares for the fleece of his sheep — more than for their health . Likewise, the minister who allows drunkenness, blasphemy, impurity, reveling, and the like, to go on among his congregation unreproved — is omitting a plain duty of his office. He is not warring against the devil. He is no true successor of the apostles. Let us observe, secondly — that one of the principal works which the apostles were commissioned to take up was preaching .
To preach the kingdom of God - For an explication of this phrase, see on Mat 3:1 (note).
The words behind it
12 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἀπέστειλεν | apesteilen | He sent | G649 → | 132 times |
| αὐτοὺς | autous | them | G846 → | 5565 times |
| κηρύσσειν | kerussein | to proclaim | G2784 → | 59 times |
| τὴν | ten | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| βασιλείαν | basileian | kingdom | G932 → | 162 times |
| τοῦ | tou | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θεοῦ | theou | of God | G2316 → | 1312 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἰᾶσθαι | iasthai | to heal | G2390 → | 25 times |
| τοὺς | tous | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀσθενεῖς. | astheneis | sick. | G772 → |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἀπέστειλενHe sent
apesteilenG649 →132 times
αὐτοὺςthem
autousG846 →5565 times
κηρύσσεινto proclaim
kerusseinG2784 →59 times
τὴνthe
tenG3588 →19766 times
βασιλείανkingdom
basileianG932 →162 times
τοῦ<the>
touG3588 →19766 times
θεοῦof God
theouG2316 →1312 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἰᾶσθαιto heal
iasthaiG2390 →25 times
τοὺςthe
tousG3588 →19766 times
ἀσθενεῖς.sick.
astheneisG772 →
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
Matthew 3:2and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
it leads to
- Matthew 4:17
From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 1:15
“The time is fulfilled,” He said, “and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe in the gospel!”
- Matthew 10:7
As you go, preach this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven is near.’
- Daniel 2:44
In the days of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed, nor will it be left to another people. It will shatter all these kingdoms…
- 2 Corinthians 7:10
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation without regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
- Matthew 4:17
Through
Luke 10:9Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
it leads to
- Matthew 3:2
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
- Matthew 3:2
Through
Mark 6:12So they set out and preached that the people should repent.
it leads to
- Luke 13:3
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
- Acts 20:21
testifying to Jews and Greeks alike about repentance to God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Luke 13:3
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies15
On this verse
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About Luke
This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 47; Eusebius of Caesarea, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY 1.10; Gregory the Dialogist, Forty Gospel Homilies, Homily 4; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.