Chapter

Luke 4:36

ESV And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"
NIV All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!"
NASB And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another, saying, 'What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!'
CSB Amazement came over them all, and they were saying to one another, "What is this message? For he commands the unclean spirits with authority and power, and they come out!"
NLT Amazed, the people exclaimed, 'What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!'
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.
NKJV Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”

What does Luke 4:36 mean?

The people reacting here are those who witnessed Jesus exorcize a demon from a man in the synagogue in Capernaum (Luke 4:31–34). Jesus sharply commanded the spirit, which left the possessed man after a minor seizure or fainting spell (Luke 4:35). The same people who noted the moral and intellectual authority of Jesus' teaching are now amazed at the spiritual power of His presence.

Luke's Greek phrasing connects the people's amazement to the immediate effect of Jesus' words. What impresses the crowd is that Jesus' command—His spoken rebuke—so powerfully impacted the demon (Matthew 8:26–27). Jesus did not engage in a long ritual. He did not plead with the demon or perform a pagan ritual. He commanded the spirit, on His own authority, and it was compelled to obey.

This impressive act will generate much news about Jesus in the surrounding area (Luke 4:37).
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