Luke 4:36
in Luke 4All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And amazement came upon all, and they spake together, one with another, saying, What is this word? for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
KJV
And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
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This verse in Luke 4
Commentary
9 notes on this verseThe bystanders, witnesses of such great deeds, were astonished at the power of his word. He performed his miracles, without offering up a prayer, asking no one else at all for the power to accomplish them. Since he is the living and active Word of God the Father, by whom all things exist, and in whom all things are, in his own person he crushed Satan and closed the profane mouth of impure demons.
This site's exposition
All the people were overcome
on Luke 4:36-37
The people's words name the one authority behind His word and deed: With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits. The news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region, the second such report in this chapter. The rejection at Nazareth did nothing to slow it.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church4 voices
Because he commands unclean spirits with authority and power, and they depart. For holy men also can expel demons, but they do so by the word of God, whereas the Word of God itself performs miracles by its own power.
As if they said, What is this word by which he commands, Go out, and he went out?
Holy men were able by the word of God to cast out devils, but the Word Himself does mighty works by His own power.
Lastly, on the part of the people, there is shown the display of due reverence, when there is added: And there came fear upon all. This is said with regard to reverence according to the act of the heart. Nor is it a wonder, because, …
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
And they were all amazed,....
2 more voices on this verse
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
We should notice, in this passage — the clear religious knowledge possessed by the devil and his agents. Twice in these verses we have proof of this. "I know you who you are — the holy one of God!" was the language of an demon in one case. "You are Christ the son of God," was the language of many demons in another case. Yet this knowledge was a knowledge unaccompanied by faith, or hope, or charity. Those who possessed it were miserable evil beings — full of bitter hatred both against God and man.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1858)
proposed
We should notice, in this passage — the clear religious knowledge possessed by the devil and his agents. Twice in these verses we have proof of this. "I know you who you are — the holy one of God!" was the language of an demon in one case. "You are Christ the son of God," was the language of many demons in another case. Yet this knowledge was a knowledge unaccompanied by faith, or hope, or charity. Those who possessed it were miserable evil beings — full of bitter hatred both against God and man. Let us beware of an unsanctified knowledge of Christianity. It is a dangerous possession, but a fearfully common one in these latter days. We may know the Bible intellectually, and have no doubt about the truth of its contents. We may have our memories well stored with its leading texts — and be able to talk glibly about its leading doctrines. And all this time the Bible may have no influence over our hearts, and wills, and consciences. We may, in reality, be nothing better than the demons! Let it never content us to know religion with our heads only. We may go on all our lives saying, "I know this — and I know that," and sink at last into Hell, with the words upon our lips. Let us see that our knowledge bears fruit in our lives. Does our knowledge of sin make us hate it? Does our knowledge of Christ make us trust and love Him? Does our knowledge of God's will make us strive to do it? Does our knowledge of the fruits of the Spirit make us labor to show them in our daily behavior? Knowledge of this kind is really profitable. Any other religious knowledge will only add to our condemnation at the last day. We should notice, secondly, in this passage — the almighty power of our Lord Jesus Christ. We see sicknesses and devils alike yielding to His command. He rebukes evil spirits — and they come forth from the unhappy people whom they had possessed.
The words behind it
25 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 |
| ἐγένετο | egeneto | came | G1096 → | 667 times |
| θάμβος | thambos | astonishment | G2285 → | |
| ἐπὶ | epi | upon | G1909 → | 883 times |
| πάντας, | pantas | all, | G3956 → | 1235 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| συνελάλουν | sunelaloun | they were speaking | G4814 → | 6 times |
| πρὸς | pros | to | G4314 → | 700 times |
| ἀλλήλους | allelous | one another | G240 → | 100 times |
| λέγοντες· | legontes | saying; | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| τίς | tis | What | G5101 → | 563 times |
| ὁ | ho | <the> | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| λόγος | logos | word | G3056 → | 329 times |
| οὗτος | houtos | [is] this | G3778 → | 1381 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | for | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| ἐν | en | with | G1722 → | 2738 times |
| ἐξουσίᾳ | exousia | authority | G1849 → | 102 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| δυνάμει | dunamei | power | G1411 → | 119 times |
| ἐπιτάσσει | epitassei | He commands | G2004 → | 10 times |
| τοῖς | tois | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| ἀκαθάρτοις | akathartois | unclean | G169 → | 32 times |
| πνεύμασιν, | pneumasin | spirits, | G4151 → | 378 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ἐξέρχονται;¶ | exerchontai | they come out? | G1831 → | 216 times |
καὶAnd
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐγένετοcame
egenetoG1096 →667 times
θάμβοςastonishment
thambosG2285 →
ἐπὶupon
epiG1909 →883 times
πάντας,all,
pantasG3956 →1235 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
συνελάλουνthey were speaking
sunelalounG4814 →6 times
πρὸςto
prosG4314 →700 times
ἀλλήλουςone another
allelousG240 →100 times
λέγοντες·saying;
legontesG3004 →1325 times
τίςWhat
tisG5101 →563 times
ὁ<the>
hoG3588 →19766 times
λόγοςword
logosG3056 →329 times
οὗτος[is] this
houtosG3778 →1381 times
ὅτιfor
hotiG3754 →1292 times
ἐνwith
enG1722 →2738 times
ἐξουσίᾳauthority
exousiaG1849 →102 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
δυνάμειpower
dunameiG1411 →119 times
ἐπιτάσσειHe commands
epitasseiG2004 →10 times
τοῖςthe
toisG3588 →19766 times
ἀκαθάρτοιςunclean
akathartoisG169 →32 times
πνεύμασιν,spirits,
pneumasinG4151 →378 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ἐξέρχονται;¶they come out?
exerchontaiG1831 →216 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
1 Peter 3:22who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.
it leads to
- Hebrews 9:24
For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God.
- Hebrews 12:2
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand…
- Hebrews 10:12
But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.
- Ephesians 1:20–21
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms,
- Mark 16:19
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
- Hebrews 9:24
Through
Luke 4:32They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
it leads to
- Matthew 7:28–29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
- Titus 2:15
Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Matthew 7:28–29
Where this verse is studied
On this page
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On this verse
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About Luke

This page draws on 9 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 4; Cyril of Alexandria, COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 12; J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels, Luke; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.
