Luke 8:1

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

VIII.

(1) And it came to pass afterward.—The last word is the same as that translated “in order,” in Luke 1:3, and is interesting as showing the continuance of St. Luke’s purpose to narrate events, so far as he could, in their exact sequence. He is the only writer in the New Testament who uses it. The verse sums up an undefined and otherwise unrecorded range of work.

Benson Commentary

Luke 8:1. And it came to pass afterward — Probably the day after he had dined with Simon; or, as the expression, εν τω καθεξης, may be understood to imply, in the order of his work; for he went through it regularly, and the end of one good work was with him the beginning of another; he went throughout every city and village — Namely, in those parts, preaching and showing, &c. — Κηρυσσων και ευαγγελιζομενος, proclaiming, and evangelizing, or publishing; the glad tidings of the kingdom of God — The kingdom which he was now about to erect among mankind: or, the glad tidings of his reconcileableness to men, of the necessity of reformation, and of the acceptableness of repentance, even in the chief of sinners. And the twelve were with him — As he thought it proper they should be for some time, that they might be further instructed for their important work, and that their having been thus publicly seen in his train might promote their reception, when they afterward came to any of these places by themselves.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:1-3 We are here told what Christ made the constant business of his life, it was teaching the gospel. Tidings of the kingdom of God are glad tidings, and what Christ came to bring. Certain women attended upon him who ministered to him of their substance. It showed the mean condition to which the Saviour humbled himself, that he needed their kindness, and his great humility, that he accepted it. Though rich, yet for our sakes he became poor.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Every city and village - Of Galilee.

Preaching an showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God - That the kingdom of God was about to come, or that his reign in the gospel was about to be set up over people. See the notes at Matthew 3:2.

The twelve - The twelve apostles.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

CHAPTER 8

Lu 8:1-3. A Galilean Circuit, with the Twelve and Certain Ministering Women. (In Luke only).

1. went—travelled, made a progress.

throughout every city and village—through town and village.

preaching, &c.—the Prince of itinerant preachers scattering far and wide the seed of the Kingdom.Luke 8:1-3 Christ preacheth through the cities, attended by his disciples,

and ministered unto by devout women of their substance.

Luke 8:4-8 The parable of the sower.

Luke 8:9,10 Why Christ taught in parables.

Luke 8:11-15 The parable expounded.

Luke 8:16-18 Light is given to be improved and communicated.

Luke 8:19-21 Christ showeth whom he regardeth as his nearest relations,

Luke 8:22-25 stilleth a tempest on the sea with his word,

Luke 8:26-40 casteth out the legion of devils, and suffereth them

to enter into the herd of swine; is entreated by the

Gadarcades to depart, and refuseth the attendance of

him whom he had healed,

Luke 8:41,42 is besought by Jairus to go and heal his daughter.

Luke 8:43-48 By the way he healeth a woman of an inveterate issue of blood.

Luke 8:49-56 He raiseth Jairus’s daughter to life.

Ver. 1-3. Still I cannot but observe, that preaching the gospel, and thereby showing the glad tidings of salvation, (the principal means to bring men to the kingdom of God, whether that in this life, or the kingdom of glory in the life which is to come), was Christ’s great work. His working miracles was but subservient to this, and for the confirmation of the doctrine which he preached; hence, when a people showed a contempt of his word, he refused to work any miracles before them. How any one can dream, that either praying, or government, or administering sacraments, or any thing else, should be more the work of a minister of Christ than preaching, may justly amaze any thinking soul that ever read the gospel.

Christ went every where about preaching, and the twelve were with him, sometimes hearing, (as his disciples), sometimes preaching; some women also were with him, such as had been healed of evil spirits and other diseases. Mary Magdalene was one, out of whom he had cast seven devils, that is, many devils. Most think she had her name from Magdala, a city in Galilee, where she was bred, or dwelt. It is a great error to think she was the Mary mentioned John 11:1-57, the sister of Lazarus; she lived in Bethany, near to Jerusalem. Yet it is plain from Mark 16:1-20 that she was at Jerusalem at the time of Christ’s death and resurrection; but so were many that followed him from Galilee, Mark 15:41 Luke 23:49.

And Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward. Christ hath his elect in all places, his Joseph in Pharaoh’s court, his Daniel and three children in Nebuchadnezzar’s court, his saints in Nero’s household, Philippians 4:22, his Joanna in Herod’s family. This was that Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, he who put John the Baptist to death, and himself with his soldiers mocked Christ; possibly his steward was as bad, but his wife was one that followed Christ, knowing that though her husband had power over her body, he had none over her soul.

And they ministered to him of their substance. They were not ashamed to be seen following of Christ, though doubtless they met with scoffs enough. Nor were they ashamed to be reproached for their former failing; nor was Christ, because of their former lives, or the life of some of them, to have them following him. It is a glory to Christ, and to the church of Christ, to have great sinners brought to him, and brought into it; the only shame is to such as, being in the church, or pretending at least to be Christians, are debauchees still. Christ did not give himself for a people that were pure and holy, without spot or wrinkle, but that he might sanctify them and cleanse them, with the washing of water by the word, Ephesians 5:25-27. Following Christ they ministered to him. This was according to Christ’s doctrine, Matthew 10:10, and his apostles after him, 1 Corinthians 9:11 2 Corinthians 8:9 Galatians 6:6. Some of them might be virgins, some widows, some wives, who had an allowance for themselves from their husbands; however, it could be no robbery to give of what was their husbands’ to him who was the Lord of all, which either their husbands or they possessed. Nor was Christ ashamed to live upon the baskets of others, while he was providing spiritual food for the souls of all, 2 Corinthians 8:9.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And it came to pass afterwards, After Christ had healed the centurion's servant at Capernaum, and had raised a widow's son that was dead, to life, at Naim; after John's disciples had been with and he had dismissed them, and had said many things in commendation of John, and in vindication both of him, and of himself: and after he had taken a meal in a Pharisee's house, where he met with a woman that had been a notorious sinner, who showed great affection for him, which occasioned much course between him and the Pharisee:

that he went throughout every city and village: that is, in Galilee, where he now was, as is clear from the foregoing chapter, and from what follows in this, Luke 8:26 and besides, it was by the sea of Galilee that he delivered the following parable concerning the sower; see Matthew 13:1

preaching, and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God; of the Gospel dispensation, which was now taking place, and had been long expected; publishing the doctrines and mysteries of it, such as free and full remission of sins for his own sake, justification by his righteousness, acceptance in him the beloved Son of God, and complete salvation by him as the Saviour of his people, than which nothing could be more welcome news, or better tidings; pointing out the ordinances of that dispensation, and showing who were the proper subjects of them, and directing and encouraging such to submit unto them; as also signifying what the kingdom of grace lies in, not in meats and drinks, or any outward things, but in inward holiness, peace, and joy; and what is a meetness for entrance into the kingdom of glory, namely, regenerating grace; and what gives a right unto it, even a better righteousness than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, and which was no other than his own:

and the twelve were with him; the twelve apostles, whom Christ had chose, and ordained as such: these attended him wherever he went, that they might be witnesses of his miracles, and learn his doctrines; that so they might be thoroughly furnished for their future ministry, both in Judea, and among the Gentiles.

Geneva Study Bible

And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Meyer's NT Commentary

Luke 8:1-3. A general historical statement in regard to the continued official teaching in Galilee, and the ministry of women connected therewith.

ἐν τῷ καθεξ] Comp. Luke 7:11.

καὶ αὐτός] καί is that which carries forward the narrative after ἐγένετο (see on Luke 5:12), and αὐτός prepares the way for the mention of the followers of Jesus (καὶ οἱ δώδεκα κ.τ.λ.).

κατὰ πόλιν.] as Luke 8:4.

Μαγδ.] see on Matthew 27:56. She is neither the woman that anointed Jesus, Luke 7:37, nor the sister of Lazarus.

ἀφʼ ἧς δαιμόν. ἑπτὰ ἐξεληλ.] Comp. Mark 16:9. A simultaneous possession by seven devils is to be conceived of, so far similar to the condition of the possessed man at Gadara, Luke 8:30. Comp., even at so early a period, Tertullian, De Anim. 25. Lange, L. J. II. 1, p. 292, rationalizes:[113] “a convert whom Jesus had rescued from the heavy curse of sin.” Comp. also Hengstenberg on John, II. p. 206, according to whom she was “an emancipated woman” who found in Christ the tranquillizing of the tumult of her emotional nature. The express τεθεραπευμέναι, healed, should certainly have guarded against this view.

ἐπιτρόπου] Matthew 20:8. He had probably been a steward, and she was his widow. She is also named at Luke 24:10.

Ἡρώδου] Probably Antipas, because without any distinguishing limitation. Neither Joanna nor Susanna is known in any other relation.

διηκόνουν] with means of living and other kinds of necessaries, Matthew 27:55.

[113] That what is here meant is “the ethically culpable and therefore metaphorical possession of an erring soul that was completely under the power of the spirit of the world.” This explaining away of the literal possession (in which, moreover, Fathers such as Gregory and Bede have already preceded him) is not to be defended by comparison of Matthew 12:43 ff., Luke 20:24 ff., where certainly the seven demons only serve the purpose of the parable. Besides, it is pure invention to find in the seven demons the representation of the spirit of the world in its whole power. At least, according to this the demon in Matthew 12:45 would only have needed to take with him six other demons.

Expositor's Greek Testament

Luke 8:1-3. Ministering women; peculiar to Lk., and one of the interesting fruits of his industrious search for additional memorabilia of Jesus, giving us a glimpse into the way in which Jesus and His disciples were supported.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Luke 8:1-3. The Ministering Women.

1. And it came to pass afterward] The expression marks a new phase, a new departure, in Christ’s mode of action. Hitherto He had made Capernaum His head-quarters; regarded it as “His own city,” and not gone to any great distance from it. At this period—the exact beginning of which is only vaguely marked—He began a wider range of missions.

shewing the glad tidings] The Baptist had preached ‘repentance’ as the preparation for the Kingdom: our Lord preached of the Kingdom itself, and this was ‘glad tidings,’ because the Kingdom of God is “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost.” Romans 14:17.

Bengel's Gnomen

Luke 8:1. Αὐτὸς διώδευε κατὰ πόλιν καὶ κώμην, The Lord Himself was passing throughout every city and village [lit. city by city and village by village]) How great was the loving condescension of the Son of God! [There is no need that we should be anxious to form a calculation of the number of His journeyings. The several evangelists record them on different occasions: in fact, all the daily life of Jesus was spent in conferring benefits on all by word and deed.—Harm., p. 315.]

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 1-3. - St. Luke's brief notice of the women who formed part of the company of Jesus. Verse 1. - And it came to pass afterward. St. Luke here notices an alteration in the Master's way of life. From this time forward Jesus ceased to make Capernaum "his city," his usual residence; he now journeys with his little band of followers from place to place. From this time there was also a distinct change in the tone of his teaching. The Greek word rendered "afterward" is the same as that translated "in order" in Luke 1:3. Showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. The public work of Jesus may be well arranged under three heads: his work as Master, as Evangelist, and as Prophet. The first had especial relation to his own immediate followers, women as well as men. In the second, as the Preacher of the grace, mercy, and the love of God, he peculiarly addressed himself to the general population; - this was the special side of the Lord's work which St. Luke loved to dwell on; this is what he alludes to here. In the third, as Prophet, the Master spoke generally to an evil generation, and especially to the political and religious leaders of the Jewish society of his day. Luke 8:1

Vincent's Word Studies

Afterward (ἐν τῷ καθεξῆς)

Rev., soon afterward. See on Luke 7:11.

Throughout every city and village (κατὰ πόλιν καὶ κώμην)

Lit., by city and village. See on Luke 8:4.

Preaching (κηρύσσων)

Or proclaiming, as a herald. Compare Luke 4:18, and see on 2 Peter 2:5.

And the twelve were with him

The were is supplied by the translators. Better, "he himself went about," etc., "and the twelve (went) with him;" or, as Rev., and with him the twelve.