Luke 9
1 He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.
[One day] Jesus summoned his twelve [apostles], and gave them power to expel all [kinds of] demons and to heal [people with] diseases. He gave them authority to do that.
2 He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick.
[Before] he sent them out to heal people and to tell people [what it meant to let] God (rule/have complete control [over]) [their lives],
3 He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—no staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money. Don’t have two tunics each.
he said to them, “Do not take things for your journey. Do not take a walking stick or a [traveler’s] bag or food or money. Do not take (an extra shirt/extra clothes).
4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.
Whenever you enter some house [to lodge there], stay in that house until you leave that town.
5 As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
[In towns] where the people do not welcome you, [you should not continue to stay there. Just] leave those towns. And as you leave, shake off the dust from your feet. [Do that to] warn them [that God will punish them for rejecting your message].”
6 They departed and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News and healing everywhere.
Then they left and traveled through many villages. Everywhere [they went], they told people God’s good message and healed sick people.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
Herod [Antipas], the ruler of [that] district, heard about the things that [Jesus and his disciples] were doing. [He had previously commanded his soldiers to execute John the Baptizer, so now] he was perplexed, because some people were saying that John had become alive again [and was doing those miracles].
8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.
Others were saying that [the prophet] Elijah had appeared [again as had been prophesied]. Others were saying that one of the [other] former prophets had become alive again [and was doing those miracles].
9 Herod said, “I beheaded John, but who is this about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him.
But Herod said, “[It cannot be John who is doing these things], [because] I [commanded my soldiers to] cut off his head. So who is [this man] that I am hearing these things about?” And he kept wanting to see [Jesus].
10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them and withdrew apart to a desert region of a city called Bethsaida.
When the apostles returned [from traveling to various towns], they told Jesus the things that they had done. Then he took them and they went by themselves [by boat] to a town called Bethsaida.
11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing.
But when the crowds [of people who had been with Jesus] found out about that, they followed him [on land. When they got to where he was], he welcomed them. He taught them about how God is going to some day (rule as king/have complete control [over people’s lives]). He also healed the sick people.
12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms and lodge and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.”
Late in the afternoon Jesus’ twelve [apostles] came to him and said, “This is a place where nobody lives, so dismiss the people so that they can go to the surrounding villages and other places where they can get some food and find places to stay!”
13 But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people.”
But he said to them, “[No], you [yourselves] give them something to eat!” They replied, “We [(exc)] have only five small loaves and two [cooked] fish. Are you [(sg)] going to [give] us [the money] to go somewhere and buy food for all these people?”
14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, “Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each.”
There were about 5,000 men [there]. He replied to the disciples, “[No], [just] tell the people to sit down. Tell them to sit in groups, with about 50 people in each group.”
15 They did so, and made them all sit down.
After they told the people that, they all sat down.
16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.
Then he took the five small loaves and the two fish. He looked up towards heaven and thanked [God for them]. Then he broke them [into pieces] and gave them to the disciples so that they would distribute them to the crowd.
17 They ate and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.
All [the people in the crowd] ate until they all had enough to eat. Then [the disciples] collected twelve baskets full of the broken pieces that were left over!
18 As he was praying alone, the disciples were near him, and he asked them, “Who do the multitudes say that I am?”
[One day] Jesus was praying in a place where only the disciples were with him. He asked them, “The crowds [of people], who do they say that I [really] am?”
19 They answered, “‘John the Baptizer,’ but others say, ‘Elijah,’ and others, that one of the old prophets has risen again.”
They replied, “[Some people say that you are] John the Baptizer, [who has come back to life again]. Others say that you are [the prophet] Elijah, [who has returned from heaven as God promised]. Others say that you are one of the [other] prophets who lived long ago, who has come back to life again.”
20 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”
He asked them, “What about you [(pl)]? Who do you say that I am?” Peter replied, “You [(sg)] are the Messiah, who [has come from] God.”
21 But he warned them and commanded them to tell this to no one,
Then Jesus warned them strongly not to tell that to anyone [yet].
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.”
Then he said, “[Even though I am] the one who came from heaven, it is necessary that I suffer very much. It is also necessary that I be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the men who teach the [Jewish] laws {that the [Jewish] elders and the chief priests and the men who teach the [Jewish] laws will reject me}. It is necessary that I be killed {that [people] will kill me}. Then on the third day [after that], I will become alive again.”
23 He said to all, “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Then he said to all of them, “If any one [of you] wants to be my disciple, you must not do [only] what you yourself desire [to do]. [Specifically], you must be willing each day [MET] [to let others hurt you and disgrace you. That is like what is done to criminals who are forced] to carry [MET] crosses [to the place where they will be executed]. [That is what anyone who wants to] be my disciple [must do].
24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake will save it.
You must do that, because those who try to save their lives [by denying that they belong to me when people want to kill them for believing in me] will not live [eternally], but those who are killed because of being my [disciples] will live [forever with me].
25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?
People might get everything that [they want] in this world, but (they are really gaining nothing if they do not get eternal life by [becoming my disciples]!/are they really gaining anything if they do not get eternal life by [becoming my disciples]?) [RHQ]
26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.
Those who reject my message [and] refuse to say that [they belong] to me, [I], the one who came from heaven, will also refuse to say that [they belong to me] when I come back with the holy angels, and have the glorious brightness that my Father has.
27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here who will in no way taste of death until they see God’s Kingdom.”
But listen carefully! Some of you [(pl)] who are here now will see God ruling [MET] [in many powerful ways]. You will see it before you die!”
28 About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.
About a week after [Jesus] said those things, he took Peter, James, and [James’ brother] John and led them up a mountain so that he could pray [there].
29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.
As he was praying, his face appeared very different to them. His clothes became as bright as lightning.
30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,
Suddenly, two men appeared who had the brightness [of heaven] surrounding them. They were [prophets who had lived long ago], Moses and Elijah. They started talking with Jesus about how he [would accomplish what God had planned when he died] [EUP] [very soon] in Jerusalem.
31 who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.
32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.
Peter and the other [disciples] who were with him were sound asleep. When they woke up, they saw [Jesus’] brightness. They also saw the two men standing with him.
33 As they were parting from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah,” not knowing what he said.
As [Moses and Elijah] were starting to leave Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is wonderful for us to be here! Allow us to make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah!” But he really did not realize what he was talking about.
34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.
As he was saying that, a [bright] cloud appeared and covered them all. The disciples were afraid as the cloud surrounded them.
35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!”
[God] [MTY/EUP] spoke to them from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son. He is the one whom [I] have chosen [to do a great work for me]. [So] you must listen to him!”
36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.
After [God] [MTY/EUP] finished saying that, [the three disciples] saw that only Jesus was there. They did not tell anyone what they had seen until much later.
37 On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great multitude met him.
The next day, after they had come down from the mountain, a large crowd [of people] met Jesus.
38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only born child.
Then a man from the crowd exclaimed, “Teacher, I plead with you, [do something to help] my son! He is my only child!
39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams; and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.
At various times an evil spirit suddenly seizes him and [causes] him to scream. The evil spirit shakes him violently and causes him to foam at the mouth. It does not leave until my child is completely exhausted.
40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn’t.”
I pleaded with your disciples [who were here] for them to expel [the evil spirit], but they were not able to do it!”
41 Jesus answered, “Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.”
Jesus replied [by saying to everyone who had gathered there], “[You who have seen how I help people] do not believe [that you can do anything]. What you [think] is perverted! How long must I be with you [before you are able to do what I do] [RHQ]? [How long must I] endure your [lack of faith]?” [Then he said to the boy’s father], “Bring your [(sg)] son here [to me]!”
42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
While they were bringing the boy to Jesus, the demon attacked the boy, threw him to the ground, and shook him severely. But Jesus rebuked the evil spirit and healed the boy. Then he returned him to his father’s [care].
43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,
All the people [there] were amazed at the great [power] of God. Luke 9:43b-45 While they were all amazed at all the miracles [Jesus] was doing, he said to his disciples,
44 “Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men.”
“Think carefully [MTY] about what I am about to tell you: [Even though I am] the one who came from heaven, [I will soon] be handed over to the authorities (OR, my enemies) {[someone] is about to enable [MTY] my enemies to seize me}.”
45 But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
But [the disciples] did not understand what he was saying; [God] prevented them from understanding it, so that they would not know [yet] what he meant. And they were afraid to ask him about [what he had said].
46 An argument arose among them about which of them was the greatest.
The disciples began to argue among themselves about which one of them would be the greatest [when Jesus became king].
47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,
But Jesus perceived what they were thinking. So he brought a young child to his side.
48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great.”
He said to [the disciples], “Those who, because they [love] me, (OR, because they want to behave like me) welcome a little child ([like] this one/[as] I [would]) [MTY], [God considers that] [MET] they are welcoming me. And those who welcome me, [God considers] that [MET] they are welcoming him, the one who sent me. Remember that those among you who think of themselves as being very unimportant will be the ones [whom God considers] to be great.”
49 John answered, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn’t follow with us.”
John replied to [Jesus], “Master, we [(exc)] saw a man who was expelling demons, [claiming] that [he had] authority from you [MTY] to do that. So we told him to stop doing it, because he is not one of us [disciples].”
50 Jesus said to him, “Don’t forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”
But Jesus said to him [and the other disciples], “Do not tell him not to [do that]! Remember that those who are not opposing you are trying to [achieve the same goals that] you are!”
51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem
When it was almost time for [God] to take Jesus up to heaven, he firmly resolved to go to Jerusalem.
52 and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.
He sent some messengers to go ahead of him, and they entered a village in Samaria [district] to prepare for him [SYN] [to go there].
53 They didn’t receive him, because he was traveling with his face set toward Jerusalem.
But [the Samaritans did not like the Jews because of their insisting that it was necessary to go to Jerusalem to worship God. So], because Jesus had firmly resolved to go to Jerusalem, they would not let him come [to their village].
54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky and destroy them, just as Elijah did?”
When two of his disciples, James and John, heard about that, they said, “Lord, do you [(sg)] want us [(exc)] to pray that [God] will send fire down from heaven, [as the prophet Elijah did long ago], and destroy those people?”
55 But he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.
But Jesus turned and rebuked them [for saying that].
56 For the Son of Man didn’t come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” They went to another village.
So they went to a different village.
57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, “I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord.”
As Jesus and the disciples were walking along the road, one man said to him, “I will go with you [(sg)] wherever you go!”
58 Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
[In order that the man might know what he could expect if he went with Jesus], Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes [in the ground in which to live], and birds have nests, but [even though I am] the one who came from heaven, I do not have a home where I can sleep!”
59 He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
Jesus told another man, “Come with me!” But the man said, “Lord/Sir, let me go [home] first. [After] my father [dies] I will bury him, [and then I will come with you].”
60 But Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce God’s Kingdom.”
But Jesus said to him, “[God considers that those who do not have eternal life are] dead [MET]. Let those people [do the work of] burying people who die. As for you, go and tell people about how God wants (to rule/to have complete control [over]) [people’s lives]!”
61 Another also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
Someone else said, “Lord, I will come with you and be your disciple, but first let me go home to say goodbye to my relatives.”
62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for God’s Kingdom.”
Jesus said to him, “Anyone who is plowing his field should not look back [to see what he has done. He must look forward to what is ahead. Similarly], [anyone who continues to be concerned about his family and other things he has left behind] is not fit [to serve me and tell others about how] God wants to rule [MTY] [people’s lives].”
