Dictionary of Bible Themes: 5279 crowds

5279 crowds

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Dictionary of Bible Themes » 5000 Humanity » 5200 Human civilisation » 5279 crowds

Multitudes of people feature prominently in the narrative parts of Scripture, particularly in the Gospels and Acts. The attitudes of the crowds to Jesus Christ throw light on his ministry, as do his attitudes to them.

Crowds tend towards evil

Exodus 23:2; Psalm 64:2; Isaiah 53:6; Jeremiah 9:2; Ezekiel 23:42; Mark 15:8-15

Crowds and worship

Psalm 42:4 See also Ezra 10:1

God's judgment is pronounced on crowds of people

Ezekiel 7:11-14

Joel 3:14

Multitudes are seen by John in his vision

Revelation 7:9 The redeemed in heaven ; Revelation 17:15 Sinful people on earth.

Crowds played a large part in Jesus Christ's ministry

Gathering round him:

Matthew 13:2 pp Mark 4:1 pp Luke 8:4; Mark 3:20; Mark 5:21; Luke 12:1

Following him:

Matthew 8:1; Mark 3:7; Luke 14:25; John 6:2 Mark 9:25 running to the scene of his healings; Luke 8:42 almost crushing him; Luke 3:7 coming to him to be baptised; Matthew 15:30 bringing people to him to be healed; Luke 5:29 eating with him; John 12:34 questioning him; John 12:17 spreading news of him; John 7:12 whispering about him

Jesus Christ often taught crowds

Jesus Christ had compassion on the crowds

Matthew 9:36 See also Mark 6:34

He healed them

Matthew 14:14 See also Matthew 19:2

He fed them

Matthew 14:15-21 pp Mark 6:35-44 pp Luke 9:12-17 pp John 6:5-13; Matthew 15:32-38 pp Mark 8:1-10

Jesus Christ's other contacts with crowds

Matthew 26:55 pp Mark 14:48 questioning them

Being hindered by them:

Matthew 9:23-25; Mark 2:4 pp Luke 5:19 Matthew 14:22 pp Mark 6:45 dismissing them; Luke 4:30 passing through them; Mark 4:36 leaving them; John 5:13 slipping away from them; Mark 7:33 leading a man away from the crowd to heal him

Individuals mentioned in connection with a crowd

Mark 9:17 pp Luke 9:37-40 the man with a demon-possessed son; Mark 5:21-34 Jairus and the woman with a haemorrhage; Luke 7:12 the widow with a dead son; Luke 19:2-3 Zaccheus, unable to see Jesus Christ because of the crowd; Mark 10:46-48 pp Luke 18:35-39 blind Bartimaeus, rebuked by the crowd and healed by Jesus Christ; Luke 11:27 the woman who blessed Jesus Christ; John 5:3-9 the man, in the crowd of disabled people by the pool, whom Jesus Christ healed

The crowd present at the raising of Lazarus:

John 11:42; John 12:17

The crowds' varied reactions to Jesus Christ's teaching

Awe, amazement, delight and faith

Matthew 9:8; Mark 1:22; Mark 12:37; John 7:31

Accusation, confusion and questioning

John 7:20; John 12:29,34

Crowds played a large part in the final events of Jesus Christ's life

Matthew 21:46 pp Mark 12:12 pp Luke 20:19 Fear of the crowds restrained the Jewish leaders. See also Matthew 21:8-11 Crowds demonstrated on Jesus Christ's entry into Jerusalem; Mark 15:8-15 The crowd, stirred up by the chief priests, asked for the release of Barabbas; Matthew 27:24 Pilate washed his hands in front of the crowd; Matthew 26:47 pp Mark 14:43 pp Luke 22:47 A crowd came with Judas to Gethsemane.

A crowd gathered in Jerusalem at Pentecost

Acts 2:6 See also Acts 2:14

Crowds featured prominently in the ministry of the apostles

Acts 5:16 bringing the sick to be healed; Acts 8:6 listening to Philip's preaching in Samaria; Acts 13:44-45 listening to Paul and Barnabas in Pisidian Antioch; Acts 14:11-19 attempting to worship Paul and Barnabas in Lystra; Acts 16:22 attacking Paul and Silas in Philippi; Acts 17:5-13 being stirred up against Paul in Thessalonica and Berea; Acts 19:30-35 rising up against Paul in Ephesus; Acts 21:27-40 rising up against Paul in Jerusalem; Acts 22:22 giving Paul a limited hearing in Jerusalem

Crowds as the source of loud noise

Isaiah 13:4 See also Daniel 10:6; Revelation 19:1,6