Luke

By Joyce Webb 2020

Chapter 9 Vs. 1-17

Verse 1 Jesus called the disciples together. He gave them power and authority over all demons, and diseases.

Then he sent them out to the villages around. He sent them to preach about the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Vs. 3 He said to them—Do not take anything as you travel.

Do not take a walking stick, do not write down what you are going to say, do not take bread, do not take money, do not take two coats—just take one.

(This was going to be a lesson and test of faith for the disciples.

No money to buy food—they would have to depend on someone inviting them into their house for a meal, they would have to depend on someone offering for them to stay in their house overnight.

The would not have a walking stick to use as a weapon against someone who might try to hurt them, or against dogs, etc.

They would have to depend on the Holy Spirit to know what

to say when they preached.

They would have to depend on the Holy Spirit to heal people when they prayed for them. They would have to depend on the Holy Spirit to cast demons out of people.

This was a new experience for them. And it would require a lot of faith.)

Vs. 4 When you get to a place, stay in whatever house the person invites you to stay in. And stay there with them until you have finished with preaching in that place.

(Jesus is telling them to stay with one family. If someone invites you in—stay with them only.

In other words, do not decide that another family you would like better and leave the first family to stay with someone else you like better.

Do not do that. Stay with the first family who invites you. And stay with them—whatever they can afford to give you for food or sleeping place—accept it —-and be thankful to them.)

Vs. 5 If you go to a city or village, and the people there do not want to hear you preach and they are against you—-then leave. As you leave—shake the dust off your feet as a sign against them that they refused to hear the gospel.

Vs. 6 So the men left and began to go to the villages around.

They preached and healed the sick.

Vs. 7 Herod was the Roman ruler over the Jewish people in that area. He heard how Jesus was preaching and healing people.

He did not know what to think about Jesus. He wondered if maybe John the Baptist had come back to life and was going around preaching.

Vs. 8 Some people were saying that Elijah had come to life again and was preaching and healing people.

Some were naming other prophets from the Old Testament–saying they had come to life again and were preaching.

Vs. 9 Herod said, I killed John. I had his head cut off. Who is this man who is going around? He wanted to see this man.

Vs. 10 When the disciples finished traveling around to the different towns, they told Jesus all they had done.

Jesus took them to a private place out in the desert so they could talk together.

People saw them leave, they followed them. Jesus saw them and let them come, he preached to them and healed them.

Vs. 12 He preached and healed all day. It was getting near sunset time. The people had been there all day. The disciples came to him and said, we need to send these people home—so they can go buy food —-there is nothing here in this desert place.

Vs. 13 Jesus said to them, “Give them something to eat.”

They said, “We only have 5 small loaves of bread, and two fish.”—-unless we go buy food for all these people.

Vs. 14 There were about 5000 men. (This may have been counting women and children, or it could have been men plus the women and children)

Jesus said, Tell them to sit down in groups of 50.

Vs. 15 So the people sat down in groups of 50.

Vs. 16 Jesus took the bread and the fish—he looked up into heaven and blessed the food. Then he began to break the bread and fish, and gave it to the disciples to pass it out to the people.

Vs. 17 The people ate all they wanted and were filled. After they had eaten, the disciples gathered up what was left, and there were 12 baskets full of bread that was left over.

Think about it–5000 —plus the disciples and Jesus—-had all they wanted to eat—from 5 small loaves of bread and 2 fish.