answering = taking him up. Greek. hupolambano. Used only by Luke, here, Luk_7:43. Act_1:9; Act_2:15, and in this sense only here = taking [the ground] from under him.
man. Greek. anthropos.App-123.
down. In more senses than one. The road was a steep descent. Compare Luk_19:28.
thieves = robbers, or brigands, as in Mat_26:55. Joh_18:40. See notes there.
stripped, &c. Not of his raiment only, but of all he had.
wounded = inflicted wounds.
departed = went off. leaving him. Supply, with the force of the verb tunchano = leaving him [for all they cared] half dead.
half dead. Greek. hemithanes. Occurs only here in N.T.