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In this lesson:
Jesus commissions His twelve. Also; Herod is baffled. Jesus feeds five thousand. Study Tip: Take notes. Notes help us learn and remember and keep us focused. Plus, we can carry notes with us to review and meditate on. |
Jesus with His twelve disciples.
By an unknown artist |
Who was -
Herod -
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great (who tried to kill the infant Messiah in Matthew 2:16). Ambitious, self-destructive, and without principles, the Romans appointed Herod tetrarch (ruler) over Galilee (Luke 3:1) and Perea after his father's death. Jesus called him a "fox" (Luke 13:32) because of his reputation for being sly, cunning, cowardly, and sordid. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded for criticizing his marriage to his niece and brother's ex-wife, Herodias (Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-18; Luke 9:9). At the time, Herod was at war with Aretas, the Arabian king of Petraea for divorcing Aretas' daughter so he could marry Herodias. After Jesus was arrested, He was brought before Herod and mocked (Luke 23:6-12). Herod was eventually dethroned by the Romans for "confederating with the king of Parthia against the Roman empire." Herod and his niece/wife, Herodias, died in exile in Spain.
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elias came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elias preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. Followers of the pagan god Baal and his wife Ashtoreth sacrificed infants and placed their remains in jars. Elias brought these murderers to justice (I Kings 18:40). He was given the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11) and stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). Over four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and 2 Kings 1-2.
Herod -
Herod Antipas was the son of Herod the Great (who tried to kill the infant Messiah in Matthew 2:16). Ambitious, self-destructive, and without principles, the Romans appointed Herod tetrarch (ruler) over Galilee (Luke 3:1) and Perea after his father's death. Jesus called him a "fox" (Luke 13:32) because of his reputation for being sly, cunning, cowardly, and sordid. Herod had John the Baptist beheaded for criticizing his marriage to his niece and brother's ex-wife, Herodias (Matthew 14:3-12; Mark 6:17-18; Luke 9:9). At the time, Herod was at war with Aretas, the Arabian king of Petraea for divorcing Aretas' daughter so he could marry Herodias. After Jesus was arrested, He was brought before Herod and mocked (Luke 23:6-12). Herod was eventually dethroned by the Romans for "confederating with the king of Parthia against the Roman empire." Herod and his niece/wife, Herodias, died in exile in Spain.
Elias -
Elias (Greek for Elijah) is perhaps the most famous of Israel's prophets, for no other is mentioned as often in the New Testament. Elias came from Tishbeh in Gilead, was devoutly religious, and prepared Israel to accept God. After the breakup of King David's Israel in 931 BC, Elias preached against the growing paganism and idol worship under King Ahab and his gentile wife, Jezebel. Followers of the pagan god Baal and his wife Ashtoreth sacrificed infants and placed their remains in jars. Elias brought these murderers to justice (I Kings 18:40). He was given the power to perform miracles (2 Kings 1:9-14; 2:8) and caused the rain to stop for three and a half years (1 Kings 17:1; James 5:17). Elias ascended into heaven without dying in "a chariot of fire" (2 Kings 2:11) and stood with Moses at Jesus' side during the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-8). Over four hundred years before the birth of Christ, the Old Testament promised that Elias would return just before "the day of the Lord" (Malachi 4:5-6). To learn more, see 1 Kings 17:1-20, 1 Kings 18:1-46 and 2 Kings 1-2.
The Gospel According to St. Luke
The King James Bible
The King James Bible
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Luke 9:1-17
"Who is this?" 1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. 3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. 4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. 5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. 6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where. 7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; 8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. 9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him. 10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida. 11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing. 12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve, and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals: for we are here in a desert place. 13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people. 14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company. 15 And they did so, and made them all sit down. 16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. 17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets. |
Margin notes:
"Staves, nor scrip." (9:3) - Means "Working sticks or money bag." "There abide." (9:4) - "Stay there." Jesus did not want the disciples moving from host to host every time they found better accommodations. "Shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them." (9:5) - It was a Jewish custom to kick the dust from their feet to show their disapproval of others. For example, pious Jews would shake the dust off their clothes and feet when they left Gentile areas so as not to be sullied by their "unholy" practices. "Tetrarch." (9:7) - The ruler (governor) of one-quarter of a province. "He desired to see him." (9:9) - Herod will meet Jesus when He is arrested in Gethsemane, then he will mock Him (Luke 23:6-12). "Went aside privately into a desert place." (9:10) - "Went by themselves to a quiet deserted place." "Bethsaida." (9:10) - A small town in Galilee located on the north-east shore of the Sea of Galilee six miles east of Capernaum. It was the hometown of three disciples, Peter, Philip, and Andrew (John 1:44). Jesus visited Bethsaida often and performed many miracles there (Mark 8:22-25). It was while teaching near Bethsaida that Jesus miraculously fed five thousand people with just five loaves of bread and two fish (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; John 6:5-13). Lost for almost two thousand years, archaeologists located Bethsaida's ruins in 1987. "When they knew it." (9:11) - "When they found out." "Get victuals." (9:12) - "Get provisions." "And they did eat." (9:17) - Except for Christ's resurrection, this is the only miracle mentioned in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:15-21; Mark 6:35-44; John 6:1-14). |
Read Matthew 10:5:14 and Mark 6:7-13 for additional accounts of Jesus commissioning His twelve disciples.
New Living Translation
Luke 9:1-17
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.
2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 "Take nothing for your journey," he instructed them. "Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.
4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town.
5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate."
6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
Herod's Confusion
7 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
8 Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9 "I beheaded John," Herod said, "so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?" And he kept trying to see him.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.
11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, "Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place."
13 But Jesus said, "You feed them."
"But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?"
14 For there were about 5,000 men there.
Jesus replied, "Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each."
15 So the people all sat down.
16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.
17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!
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."
Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples
1 One day Jesus called together his twelve disciples and gave them power and authority to cast out all demons and to heal all diseases.
2 Then he sent them out to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
3 "Take nothing for your journey," he instructed them. "Don't take a walking stick, a traveler's bag, food, money, or even a change of clothes.
4 Wherever you go, stay in the same house until you leave town.
5 And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate."
6 So they began their circuit of the villages, preaching the Good News and healing the sick.
Herod's Confusion
7 When Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, heard about everything Jesus was doing, he was puzzled. Some were saying that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead.
8 Others thought Jesus was Elijah or one of the other prophets risen from the dead.
9 "I beheaded John," Herod said, "so who is this man about whom I hear such stories?" And he kept trying to see him.
Jesus Feeds Five Thousand
10 When the apostles returned, they told Jesus everything they had done. Then he slipped quietly away with them toward the town of Bethsaida.
11 But the crowds found out where he was going, and they followed him. He welcomed them and taught them about the Kingdom of God, and he healed those who were sick.
12 Late in the afternoon the twelve disciples came to him and said, "Send the crowds away to the nearby villages and farms, so they can find food and lodging for the night. There is nothing to eat here in this remote place."
13 But Jesus said, "You feed them."
"But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish," they answered. "Or are you expecting us to go and buy enough food for this whole crowd?"
14 For there were about 5,000 men there.
Jesus replied, "Tell them to sit down in groups of about fifty each."
15 So the people all sat down.
16 Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, looked up toward heaven, and blessed them. Then, breaking the loaves into pieces, he kept giving the bread and fish to the disciples so they could distribute it to the people.
17 They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers!
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."
Key verses from this passage
"Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick." (9:1-2)
"Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets." (9:16-17)
"Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples to set before the multitude. And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets." (9:16-17)
Today's Question:
1. Why did Jesus tell His disciples to "take nothing" on their "journey?" (9:3)
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1. Why did Jesus tell His disciples to "take nothing" on their "journey?" (9:3)
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Answer: (Do you agree?)
1. Taking nothing with them was part of the disciple's "training." Jesus wanted them to learn to trust God. The disciples will face many obstacles after the crucifixion as they travel about spreading Christianity, and they needed to learn to rely on their heavenly Father for strength and all their needs.
Application thought for the day:
Beginning in verse 9:11 we see the crowds follow Jesus. He "receives them," teaches them, heals them, and then feeds them (9:17). Jesus hasn't changed in two thousand years. All who seek the Messiah today will be received, taught, healed, and their body and soul fed.
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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.
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© 2026 evolke