Luke 4
1 As Jesus left the Jordan [River valley], the Holy Spirit was completely controlling him.
On returning from the Jordan, full of the Holy Spirit, Jesus was led by the power of the Spirit through the wilderness for forty days, tempted by the devil.
2 For 40 days the Spirit led him around in the desolate area. During that time Jesus was being tempted by the devil {the devil was tempting him}, and Jesus did not eat anything. When that time ended, he was [very] hungry.
All that time he ate nothing; and, when it was over, he became hungry.
3 Then the devil said to Jesus, “Because you [claim that you] ([have a relationship with] God as a son [has with his father] [MET]/are the man who is both God and man), [prove it by] telling these stones to become bread [so that you can eat them]!”
So the devil said to him, ‘If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to become a loaf of bread.’
4 Jesus replied, “[No, I will not change stones into bread, because it is written] {[Moses] wrote} [in the Scriptures] that [eating] food sustains people physically, but it does not [sustain them spiritually. They also need food for their spirits].”
And Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says – “It is not on bread alone that a person is to live.”’
5 Then the devil took him on top of [a high mountain] and showed him in an instant all the nations in the world.
And the devil led Jesus up, and showing him in a single moment all the kingdoms of the earth, said to him,
6 Then he said to [Jesus], “I will give you the authority [to rule] all these areas and will make you famous. [I can do this] because [God] has permitted me [to control these areas], and I can allow anyone I desire to rule them!
‘I will give you all this power, and the splendour of them; for it has been given into my hands and I give it to whom I wish.
7 So if you worship me, I will [let] you [rule] them all!”
If you worship me, it will all be yours.’
8 But Jesus replied, “[No, I] will not [worship you, because] it is written {[the Psalmist] wrote} [in the Scriptures], ‘It is the Lord, your God, whom you must worship, and you must serve only him!’”
And Jesus answered him, ‘Scripture says – “You should worship the Lord your God, and worship him only.”’
9 Then the devil took [Jesus] to Jerusalem. He set him on the highest part of the Temple and said to him, “Because you [claim that you] ([have a relationship with God as a son has with his father] [MET]/are the man who is both God and man), [prove it by] jumping down from here.
The devil next led him into Jerusalem, and, placing him on the parapet of the Temple, said, ‘If you are God’s Son throw yourself down from here,
10 [You will not be hurt], because it is written {the [Psalmist] wrote} [in the Scriptures], ‘God will command his angels to protect you [(sg)].
for scripture says – “He will give his angels commands about you, to guard you safely,”
11 They will lift you up with their hands [when you are falling], so that [you will not get hurt]. You will not [even] strike your foot on a stone.’”
And “On their hands they will lift you up, otherwise you might strike your foot against a stone.”’
12 But Jesus replied, “[No, I] will not [do that, because] it is written {[Moses] wrote} [in the Scriptures]: ‘Do not try to test the Lord your God [to see if he will prevent something bad from happening to you when you do something foolish]’.”
But Jesus answered him, ‘It is said – “You must not tempt the Lord your God.”’
13 Then, after the devil had finished trying to tempt [Jesus] in many ways, he left him. He wanted to try to tempt him later at an appropriate time.
When he had tried every kind of temptation, the devil left Jesus, until another opportunity.
14 As the Spirit empowered him, Jesus returned to Galilee [district. People] throughout all that region heard about what he [was doing].
Moved by the power of the Spirit, Jesus returned to Galilee. Reports about him spread through all that region;
15 He taught [people] in their (synagogues/meeting places). [As a result], he was praised by everyone {everyone praised him}.
and he began to teach in their synagogues, and was honoured by everyone.
16 Then [Jesus] went to Nazareth, [the town] where he grew up. (On the Sabbath/On the Jewish rest day) he went (to the synagogue/to the Jewish meeting place), as he usually did. He stood up [to indicate that he wanted] to read [Scriptures] to them.
Coming to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, Jesus, as was his custom, went on the Sabbath into the synagogue, and stood up to read the scriptures.
17 A scroll containing [the words] that the prophet Isaiah [had written] was given to him {[Someone] gave to him a scroll containing [the words] that the prophet Isaiah [had written]}. He opened the scroll and found the place from which he [wanted to] read. [He read these words]:
He was given the book of the prophet Isaiah; and Jesus opened the book and found the place where it says –
18 The Spirit (of the Lord/of God) is upon me. He has appointed [MTY] me to declare God’s good news to the poor. He has sent me [here] to proclaim that God will deliver those whom [Satan] has captured, and he will [enable me to] enable those who are blind to see. He will enable me to free people who have been oppressed {whom [others] have oppressed}.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, for he has consecrated me to bring good news to the poor, he has sent me to proclaim release to captives and restoration of sight to the blind, to set the oppressed at liberty,
19 And he sent me to declare that now is the time when (the Lord/God) will [act] favorably [toward people].
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
20 Then he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down [to teach the people]. Everyone in the synagogue was looking intently [MTY] at him.
Then, closing the book and returning it to the attendant, he sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him,
21 He said to them, “Today as you have been hearing [MTY] [me speak], [I am beginning] to fulfill this Scripture passage.”
and Jesus began, ‘This very day this passage has been fulfilled in your hearing.’
22 [At first] everyone there spoke well about him, and they were amazed at the charming words that he spoke. [But then some of] them said, “(He is [only] Joseph’s son!/Isn’t he [only] Joseph’s son?) [RHQ] [So] ([it is useless for us(exc) to listen to what he says!/why should we(exc) listen to what he says]?) [RHQ]”
All who were present spoke well of him, and were astonished at the beautiful words that fell from his lips. ‘Isn’t Joseph’s son?’ they asked.
23 He said to them, “Surely [some of] you will quote to me the proverb that says, ‘Doctor, heal yourself!’ [What you will mean is], ‘People told us that you did miracles in Capernaum [town, but we(exc) do not know if those reports are true. So] do miracles here in your own hometown, too!’”
‘Doubtless,’ said Jesus, ‘you will remind me of the saying – “Doctor, cure yourself;” and you will say “Do here in your own country all that we have heard that has been done at Capernaum.”
24 Then he said, “It is certainly true that [people] do not accept [the message of] a prophet when he speaks in his hometown, [just like you(pl) are not accepting my message now].
I tell you,’ he continued, ‘that no prophet is acceptable in his own country.
25 But think about this: There were many widows in Israel during the time when [the prophet] Elijah [lived. During that time], because of there being no rain [MTY] for three years and six months, there was a great famine throughout the country.
There were, doubtless, many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the heavens were closed for three years and six months, and a severe famine prevailed throughout the country;
26 But [God] did not send Elijah to [help] any of those [Jewish] widows. [God sent him] to Zarepath [town] near Sidon [city], to [help] a [non-Jewish] widow.
and yet it was not to one of them that Elijah was sent, but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidonia.
27 There were also many [Jewish] lepers in Israel during the time when the prophet Elisha [lived]. But [Elisha] did not heal any of them. He healed only Naaman, a [non-Jewish] man from Syria.”
And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet it was not one of them who was made clean, but Naaman the Syrian.’
28 When all the people in the synagogue heard him say that, they were very angry, [because they realized that he was inferring that he similarly would help non-Jewish people instead of helping Jews] (OR, [that they also were not worthy of receiving God’s help]).
All the people in the synagogue, as they listened to this, became enraged.
29 So they all got up and shoved him out of the town. They took him to the top of the hill outside their town in order to throw him off the cliff [and kill him].
Starting up, they drove Jesus out of the town, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their town stood, intending to hurl him down.
30 But he [simply] walked through their midst and went away.
But he passed through the middle of the crowd and went on his way.
31 [One day] Jesus went [with his disciples] down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee [district]. On the next (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest) (OR, Each (Sabbath/Jewish day of rest)), he taught the people ([in the synagogue/in the Jewish meeting place]).
Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee. On the Sabbath he taught the people.
32 They were continually amazed at what he was teaching, because [he spoke] ([with authority/as people speak who have] the right to command others what to do).
They were amazed at his teaching, because his words were spoken with authority.
33 [That day], (OR, On one of those Jewish days of rest, ) there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. That man shouted very loudly,
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of a foul demon in him, who called out loudly,
34 “Hey! Jesus, from Nazareth! [We(exc) evil spirits] have nothing in common with you, so ([do not interfere with us now!/why should you interfere with us now]?) [RHQ] (Do not destroy us [now!]/Have you come to destroy us [now]?) [RHQ] I know who you are. You are the Holy One [who has come] from God!”
‘Stop! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’
35 Jesus rebuked [the evil spirit], saying, “Be quiet! And come out [of the man]!” The demon threw the man down on the ground in the midst of the people. But without harming the man, the demon left him.
But Jesus rebuked the demon. ‘Be silent! Come out from him,’ he said. The demon flung the man down in the middle of the people, and then came out from him, without causing him further harm.
36 The people were all amazed. They said to each other, “(What he says to the demons [has great power!/] [kind of] teaching is this?) [RHQ] He speaks to them like he knows that they must obey him, and as a result they leave people!”
And they were all lost in amazement, and kept saying to one another, ‘What words are these? For he gives his commands to the foul spirits with a marvellous authority, and they come out.’
37 The people were telling everyone in [every village] in the surrounding region what Jesus [had done].
And rumours about Jesus traveled through every place in the region.
38 Jesus [and his disciples] left (the synagogue/the Jewish meeting place) and entered Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick and had a high fever. So [others in Simon’s family] (OR, [the disciples]) asked Jesus to [heal] her.
On leaving the synagogue, Jesus went into Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a severe attack of fever, and they asked Jesus to cure her.
39 So he bent over her and commanded the fever to leave her. At once she became well! She got up and served them [some food].
Bending over her, he rebuked the fever; the fever left her, and she immediately got up and began to take care of them.
40 When the sun was setting [that day, and the restriction about not traveling] (on [the Sabbath/on the Jewish rest day]) [was ended], many people [HYP] whose [friends or relatives] were sick or who had various diseases brought them to Jesus. He put his hands on them and healed [all of] them.
At sunset, all who had friends suffering from various diseases took them to Jesus; and he placed his hands on everyone of them and cured them.
41 He also was [expelling demons] from many people. As the demons left those people, they shouted to Jesus, “You are (the Son of God/the one who is God and man)!” But he rebuked those demons and would not allow them to tell [people about him], because they knew that he was the Messiah, and [for various reasons he did not want everyone to know that yet].
And even demons came out from many people, screaming “You are the Son of God.” Jesus rebuked them, and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.
42 [Early] the next morning [Jesus] left that house and went to an uninhabited place [to pray]. Many people searched for him, and when they found him they kept urging him not to leave them.
At daybreak, Jesus went out and walked to a lonely spot. But crowds of people began to look for him; and they came to where he was and tried to detain him and prevent his leaving them.
43 But he said to them, “I must tell [people] in other towns also the good message about how God wants to rule [MET] their lives, because that is what I was sent {[God] sent me} to do.”
Jesus, however, said to them, ‘I must take the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns too, for that was why I was sent.’
44 So he kept preaching in (the synagogues/Jewish worship places) [in various towns] in Judea [province].
And he continued to make his proclamation in the synagogues of Judea.
