Luke 17:23
in Luke 17People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And they shall say to you, Lo, there! Lo, here! go not away, nor follow after them:
KJV
And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.
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This verse in Luke 17
Commentary
18 notes on this verseHe who knows the signs of the coming judgment also knows the end. Why would he not know? He is like flashing lightning, since as the Light, the Son of God illumines the inner part of the heavenly mystery. "In that hour," it says. He also knows the hour, but he knows it for himself, he does not know it for me. He then suitably asserts that the cause of the flood, fire and of the judgment proceeded from our sins, because God did not create evil, but our actions devised it for themselves.
This site's exposition
you will long to see
on Luke 17:22-25
The lightning that lights up the sky from one end to the other pictures His day as sudden and seen everywhere. But first He must suffer and be rejected by this generation, so the glory comes after the cross.
This site's exposition
Do not go out or chase after them
People will tell the disciples to look here and there, and the disciples are to stay where they are. Albert Barnes notes that Josephus records many false messiahs in the days that followed. Eusebius applied the warning to the Antichrist.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
As if he said, If at the coming of Antichrist, his fame shall be spread abroad, as though Christ had appeared, go not out, nor follow him. For it cannot be that He who was once seen on earth, shall any more dwell in the corners of the earth. It will therefore be he of whom we speak, not the true Christ.
When our Lord said, The kingdom of God is within you, He would fain prepare His disciples for suffering, that being made strong they might be able to enter the kingdom of God; He therefore foretells to them, that before His coming from heaven at the end of the world, persecution will break out upon them. Hence it follows, And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, &c. meaning that so terrible will be the persecution, that they would desire to see one of His days, that is, of that time when they yet walked with Christ. Truly the Jews ofttimes beset Christ with reproaches and insults, and sought to stone Him, and ofttimes would have hurled Him down from the mountain; but even these seem to be looked upon as slight in comparison of greater evils that are to come.
He now speaks to the holy disciples as his true companions. He says, "The days will come when you will desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and will not see it." … He would have them prepared for all that can cause people grief. He wants them ready to endure patiently so that approved they may enter the kingdom of God. He warns them that before his coming from heaven at the consummation of the world, tribulation and persecution will precede him. They will wish to see one of the days of the Son of man, such as those when they were still going around with Christ and speaking with him.
The Medieval Church2 voices
And they will say to you: Look, there. Do not go, do not hurry. Although this sentence can be understood not only for a time, but also for a person. And indeed for a time, because there arose some who, calculating the courses of ages, …
Do not listen, He says, to anyone's persuasions that I have come here or there.
10 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church1 voice
Third, as regards the condemnation of the opposition of deceiving heretics, he adds: And they will say to you: Behold here, and behold there. The Gloss: "Christ is in this person, or in this time." For heretics have sometimes dared and will dare to say …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
The kingdoms of the earth shall be leavened by the gospel ere they are aware of it." The trophies of Christ's victories shall be erected on the ruins of the devil's kingdom, even in those countries that could never be subdued to the Roman yoke.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — odd-straight-quotes
9 Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? 10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. That the giving of offences is a great sin, and that which we should every one of us avoid and carefully watch against,
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — verbatim-run:30w-of-67
And they shall say unto you, see here, or see there,....
The Nineteenth Century6 voices
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
And they shall say ... - Many false Christs, according to Josephus, appeared about that time, attempting to lead away the people. See the notes at Mat 24:23-27.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
We are taught, firstly, in this passage — that the kingdom of God is utterly unlike the kingdoms of this world. The Lord Jesus tells the Pharisees that "it does not come with observation." He meant by this, that its approach and presence were not to be marked by outward signs of dignity. Those who expected to observe anything of this kind, would be greatly disappointed. They would wait and watch for such a kingdom in vain — while the real kingdom would be in the midst of them without their knowing it.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
when, &c.--To meet the erroneous views not only of the Pharisees, but of the disciples themselves, our Lord addresses both, announcing the coming of the kingdom under different aspects.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
proposed
they shall say, See here . . . go not, &c.--a warning to all so-called expositors of prophecy and their followers, who cry, Lo there and see here, every time that war breaks out or revolutions occur.
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We are taught, firstly, in this passage — that the kingdom of God is utterly unlike the kingdoms of this world. The Lord Jesus tells the Pharisees that "it does not come with observation." He meant by this, that its approach and presence were not to be marked by outward signs of dignity. Those who expected to observe anything of this kind, would be greatly disappointed. They would wait and watch for such a kingdom in vain — while the real kingdom would be in the midst of them without their knowing it. "Behold," He says, "the kingdom of God is within you." The expression which our Lord here uses, describes exactly the beginning of His spiritual kingdom. It began in a manger at Bethlehem — without the knowledge of the great, the rich, and the wise. It appeared suddenly in the temple at Jerusalem — and no one but Simeon and Anna recognized its King. It was received thirty years after by none but a few fishermen and publicans in Galilee. The rulers and Pharisees had no eyes to see it. The King came to His own people — and His own did not receive Him. All this time, the Jews professed to be waiting for the kingdom. But they were looking in the wrong direction. They were waiting for signs which they had no warrant for expecting. The kingdom of God was actually in the midst of them — yet they could not see it! The literal kingdom which Christ shall set up one day, will begin in some respects very like His spiritual kingdom. It will not be accompanied by the signs, and marks, and outward manifestations which many are expecting to see. It will not be ushered in by a period of universal peace and holiness. It will not be announced to the Church by such unmistakable warnings — that everybody will be ready for it, and prepared for its appearing. It shall come suddenly, unexpectedly, and without a sign of warning — to the immense majority of mankind.
And they shall say - Or, And If they shall say. Two MSS., the Syriac and Armenian, have εαν, If. See here - KM, sixteen others, and the later Syriac, have ὁ χριστος, Behold the Christ is here. This is undoubtedly the meaning of the place. See on Mat 24:23 (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 |
| ἐροῦσιν | erousin | they will say | G4483 → | 46 times |
| ὑμῖν· | humin | to you; | G4771 → | 2973 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | Behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ἐκεῖ | ekei | there | G1563 → | 105 times |
| ἢ | e | or | G2228 → | 342 times |
| ἰδοὺ | idou | Behold | G2400 → | 200 times |
| ὧδε. | hode | here. | G5602 → | 61 times |
| μὴ | me | Not | G3361 → | 1066 times |
| ἀπέλθητε | apelthete | may go forth | G565 → | 115 times |
| μηδὲ | mede | nor | G3366 → | 56 times |
| διώξητε. | dioxete | may follow. | G1377 → | 45 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐροῦσινthey will say
erousinG4483 →46 times
ὑμῖν·to you;
huminG4771 →2973 times
ἰδοὺBehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ἐκεῖthere
ekeiG1563 →105 times
ἢor
eG2228 →342 times
ἰδοὺBehold
idouG2400 →200 times
ὧδε.here.
hodeG5602 →61 times
μὴNot
meG3361 →1066 times
ἀπέλθητεmay go forth
apeltheteG565 →115 times
μηδὲnor
medeG3366 →56 times
διώξητε.may follow.
dioxeteG1377 →45 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
Luke 17:21Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
it leads to
- Matthew 12:28
But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.
- Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Mark 13:21
At that time if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or ‘There He is!’ do not believe it.
- Luke 10:9–11
Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
- Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
- Matthew 12:28
Through
Luke 21:8Jesus answered, “See to it that you are not deceived. For many will come in My name, claiming, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them.
it leads to
- 1 John 4:1
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3
Let no one deceive you in any way, for it will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness—the son of destruction—is revealed.
- Mark 13:5–6
Jesus began by telling them, “See to it that no one deceives you.
- 1 John 4:1
Where this verse is studied
About Luke
This page draws on 14 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); Ambrose of Milan, Commentary on Luke; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 17; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 117; Eusebius of Caesarea, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; 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; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.