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    Luke 4:31-44
    Lesson 112

    Read both the "King James Bible" and the "New Living Translation."

    In this lesson: 
     
    Jesus, teacher, and healer.
    Jesus heals the possessed man in the synagogue.
    Study Tip:
     
    Look for something in each passage to avoid.  Look for a commandment to follow.
    Who was -
     
    Simon -
    Jesus' apostle Simon Peter (2 Peter 1:1), also called Peter, Simeon (Acts 15:14), or Simon Bar-jona (Matthew 16:17).  The Greek translation for Peter is Petros (meaning rock), the Aramaic is Cephas (John 1:42), and the Latin is Petrus.  Peter was born in Bethsaida (John 1:44) on the northern coast of the Sea of Galilee.  His father was Jona, also called Jonah or Jonas, (John 1:42; 21:15-17) and his younger brother was the disciple Andrew (John 1:40).  Peter was a simple fisherman in Capernaum (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16) and partners with James and John (Luke 5:10) when he met Jesus.  Bold but uneducated (Acts 4:13), Peter (along with Andrew) became the first disciples (Matthew 4:18-20; Mark 1:16-18) and part of Jesus' inner circle.  Whenever Jesus was in Galilee, He used Peter's home as His base.  Peter wrote the First and Second Epistles of Peter (1 Peter 1:1; 2 Peter 1:1), walked on water (Matthew 14:28-31), performed the miracle at the Beautiful Gate (Acts 3:1-10), witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1-9; Mark 9:1-13; Luke 9:28-36; 2 Peter 1:16-18), the resurrection of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37-42), and Jesus praying in Gethsemane as He waited to be arrested (Mark 14:32-34).  Peter rose up before the mob to resist Jesus' arrest (John 18:10-13) yet within hours denied even knowing
    Him three times (Matthew 26:69-75).  After the crucifixion, Peter became the rock on which Jesus built His church (Matthew 16:16-19) and helped spread the Gospel from Jerusalem to Rome.  Whenever the Bible lists the twelve disciples/apostles, Peter is always listed first (Matthew 10:2-4; Mark 3:16-19) and Roman Catholics call him their first Pope.  Peter was married (Matthew 8:14; Mark 1:30; Luke 4:38) and brought his wife on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).  Although Jesus told Peter he would be crucified when he "shalt be old" (John 21:18-19), the Bible gives no details of his death.  However, the Christian writers Quintus Septimius Florens Tertullianus (AD 160-220) and Origen Adamantius (AD 185-254) report that Peter was crucified upside down by Emperor Nero in Rome about AD 70.

    The Gospel According to St. Luke

    The King James Bible    ​

    Luke 4:31-44
    An evil spirit

    31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

    32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

    33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,

    34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

    35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

    36 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.

    37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

    38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.

    39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

    40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

    41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak:
    for they knew that he was Christ.

    42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.

    43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent.

    44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.                          ​​​
    ​Margin notes: 
     
    "And came down to Capernaum." (4:31) - Jesus arrived in Capernaum after leaving His hometown of Nazareth, where they tried to kill Him (Luke 4:28-30). 
     
    "They were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power." (4:32) - "They were astonished by His teachings, for His words had authority."  People were continuously astonished by Jesus (Matthew 7:28; 13:54; Mark 10:24; Luke 2:47) or marveled at Him (Matthew 8:27; 9:8; Mark 4:36; John 7:15).  Why?  Read John 7:46.
     
    "I know thee who thou art." (4:34) - Even demons know who Jesus is.  See "Today's Question" below.
     
    "What a word is this!' (4:36) - Means, "What is this teaching!"
     
    "The fame of him." (4:37) - "The news of Jesus."
     
    "They besought him." (4:38) - "They begged Him."
     
    "Ministered." (4:39) - Means, "served."
     
    "Now when the sun was setting." (4:40) - Traveling on the Sabbath (sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday) was forbidden for Jews.  But the Sabbath was now over, and people flocked to Jesus for help.
     
    "Sick with divers diseases." (4:40) - "Sick with various diseases."
     
    "Went into a desert place." (4:42) - "Went into a quiet place."  Jesus often sought solitude to pray (Mark 1:35).
     
    "Stayed him." (4:42) - "Detained Him."
    To read Mark's account of Jesus driving out this demon see Mark 1:23-28 (lesson 64).


                                                  New Living Translation 
     

    Luke 4:31-44
    Jesus Casts Out a Demon
     
    31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and taught there in the synagogue every Sabbath day.

    32 There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.
     
    33 Once when he was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon-an evil spirit-began shouting at Jesus,

    34 "Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One sent from God!"
     
    35 Jesus cut him short. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further.
     
    36 Amazed, the people exclaimed, "What authority and power this man's words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!"

    37 The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region.
     
    Jesus Heals Many People
     
    38 After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon's home, where he found Simon's mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. "Please heal her," everyone begged.

    39 Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.
     
    40 As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.

    41 Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.
     
    Jesus Continues to Preach
     
    42 Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them.

    43 But he replied, "I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent."

    44 So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.     
    ​    ​
    This second Bible text from the "New Living Translation" (Tyndale House, Publishers, Wheaton, Illinois) is a paraphrase and not an accurate word for word translation of the Bible.  However, it is a helpful tool when read with the "King James Version."
    Today's Question:
     
    1. Why did Jesus silence the demons before they could reveal His identity? (4:41) 
    ​      


    Feel free to email these lessons to others.  If you know someone who would enjoy receiving them directly, let me know.
    Answer: (Do you agree?) 
    ​​
    1. Jesus silenced the demons because the time wasn't right to reveal His true identity.  God works according to His own plan, not the schedule of demons.  It was important for people to first see Jesus as a servant to mankind, teaching, and healing.  In time they would come to know Him as King.  Besides, Jesus did not want or need the testimony of devils.  
    Notice that demons can enter a place of worship (4:33), and they instantly recognize Jesus (verses 4:34 and 4:41).  Unlike people who deny Christ, demons know very well that Jesus is the Son of God (4:41; 8:28; Matthew 8:29; Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7).  Note also, the power Jesus has over them. They instantly silence themselves when ordered.

          
       
    Application thought for the day:
    ​     
    There are several important spiritual lessons in this segment.  How many apply to your life?
    Thanks to the writings and commentary of John Wesley and Adam Clarke. Also, "The Layman's Bible Study Notebook" by Irving Jensen published by Harvest House Publishing, Irvine, California; the "Life Change Series" published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; the "Life Application Study Bible" published by Tyndale House Publishing, Carol Stream, Illinois; "The Quest Study Bible" published by The Zondervan Corporation, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "Robertson's New Testament Word Studies"; "The MacArthur Bible Commentary" by John MacArthur published by Thomas Nelson, Nashville, Tennessee; "Wisdom of the Bible" CD by Topics Entertainment, Inc., Renton, Washington for their inspiring pictures; "My utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers published by Barbour publishing, Inc., Uhrichsville, Ohio; The "Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge" by Reuben Archer Torrey; "Hope For Each Day" by Billy Graham published by J. Countryman, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; "Easton's Bible Dictionary" by Matthew George Easton; "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; "Halley's Bible Handbook" by Henry H. Halley, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan; "The Living New Testament" published by Tyndale house; "The New Living Translation" published by Tyndale House; BibleGateway.com for all their wonderful links; and of course the "King James Bible".  All were critical in putting these lessons together.
    ​     © 2020 evolke