Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Luke 4:14 - 4:15

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Bob Utley You Can Understand the Bible - Luke 4:14 - 4:15


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This Chapter Verse Commentaries:

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Luk_4:14-15

14And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district. 15And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.

Luk_4:14 "returned to Galilee" Both Matthew and Luke move directly from the temptation experience in Judea into the Galilean ministry which runs from Luk_4:14 to Luk_9:50. Only Joh_1:35 to Joh_4:44 describes the intervening ministry in Judea. Galilee, which in Hebrew means "circle" (BDB 165 II), was interpreted by the rabbis as meaning encircled by the Gentiles. This area was despised by the Orthodox Jews from Judea, however, Jesus' ministry here was a fulfillment of predictive prophecy (cf. Isa_9:1). Josephus describes this region in Jewish Wars 3.3.1-2.

Mark (Luk_1:14) and Matthew (Luk_4:12) mention that Jesus' return to Galilee coincided with John the Baptist's arrest by Herod.

"in the power of the Spirit" Temptation does not cause the loss of the Spirit. Jesus spoke the Father's words and acted in the Spirit's power. The fluidity between the ministries of the three persons of the Trinity is evident throughout the NT (cf. Luk_4:18-19). See hyperlink at Luk_3:22.

"news about Him spread through all the surrounding district" This is one of Luke's characteristic statements (cf. Luk_4:37; Luk_5:15; Luk_7:17). He tended to add brief summaries both in his Gospel and Acts.

Luk_4:15 "synagogues" This local Jewish institution developed during the Babylonian Exile to offer the Jews who were estranged from their Temple a place of prayer, worship, study, and ministry. It was probably the single most significant means of the Jews retaining their culture. Even after they returned to Palestine they continued this local institution.

"was praised by all" The Gospels record Jesus' popularity with the common people in the local Galilean synagogues. But they also record a growing opposition from the religious leaders.

Luke often adds a comment about how people preserved Jesus' words (cf. Luk_4:22; Luk_8:25; Luk_9:43; Luk_11:27; Luk_13:17; Luk_19:48).