THE GOSPEL ACCORDING to
*LUKE

Luke 5

1Christ teacheth the people out of Simon's ship. 4The miraculous draught of fishes: Simon and the two sons of Zebedee follow him. 12Christ cleanseth a leper; 16prayeth in the wilderness: 17answereth the reasonings of the scribes and Pharisees concerning his forgiving sins, and healeth the sick of the palsy: 27calleth Levi from the receipt of custom: 29justifieth his eating with publicans and sinners: 33excuseth his disciples from fasting for the present; 36and illustrateth the matter by a twofold parable.


1AND ita came to pass, that, as the people 1pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by 2the lake of Gennesaret,

a Mat. 13:2; Mark 4:1.

1 Gr. lay upon or against Him.

2 It is otherwise called the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberias; being a fresh water lake, having no run off into the sea.

2And saw two ships 3standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3 Or, lying by the lake.

3And he entered into one of the ships, which was 4Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4 Namely, Peter, see verse 8.

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launchb out into the deep, and let down your nets 5for a draught.

b John 21:6.

5 Gr. for a catch.

5And Simon answering said unto him, 6Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy 7word I will let down the net.

6 Gr. epistata, which denotes anyone who is set over others, for which the other evangelists use the Hebrew word rabbi and the Greek word didaskale.

7 That is, command, in which they understood a promise to be also included.

6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7And they beckoned unto their 8partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and 9help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8 That is, who were in one fellowship or company with them.

9 Gr. seize with them, or draw up with them.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he 10fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, 11Depart from me; for I am a sinful 12man, O Lord.

10 Forasmuch as by this miracle he acknowledged the Godhead of Christ.

11 Namely, that I would abide in Thy company as one who is unworthy; as the centurion also said, Mat. 8:8.

12 Or, person.

9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draughtc of the fishes which they had taken:

c net full of fish.

10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; fromd henceforth thou shalt 13catch men.

d Jer. 16:16; Ezek. 47:9; Mat. 4:19; Mark 1:17.

13 Namely, by the preaching of the Gospel, which is compared to a net, Mat. 13:47. See of the Greek word the annotation at 2 Tim. 2 on verse 26.

11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsooke all, and followed him.

e Mat. 4:20; 19:27; Mark 10:28; Luke 18:28.

12¶Andf it came to pass, when he was in a certain 14city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

f Mat. 8:2; Mark 1:40.

14 Although the lepers were not allowed to dwell in the cities, yet it seems notwithstanding that they were allowed into the same, provided they cried: Unclean, Lev. 13:45; Luke 17:12.

13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

14And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and 15shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according asg Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

15 See the reasons hereof in Mat. 12:16.

g Lev. 13:2; 14:2; Mat. 8:4.

15But so much the more went there 16a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16 Gr. the word.

16¶And 17he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

17 Gr. He was departing and praying, whereby here is given to understand that He did this often. See afterward Luke 6:12; 9:18, 28.

17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctorsh of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present 18to heal them.

h teachers.

18 Namely, of whom is spoken, verse 15, which (power) here showed itself because they came to Christ with a firm confidence, as is to be seen in verse 20.

18¶And,i behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a 19palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

i Mat. 9:1; Mark 2:3; Acts 9:33.

19 Gr. whose sinews were become loose or supple, as those who are commonly struck with the palsy.

19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went 20upon the housetop, and let him down through 21the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20 Of the condition of the roofs among the Jews, see Mat. 10 on verse 27.

21 Or, coverings.

20And when he 22saw 23their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

22 Or, knowing.

23 Namely, both of the sick of the palsy and of those who brought him.

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Whoj can forgive sins, but God alone?

j Psalm 32:5; Isa. 43:25.

22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23Whether is 24easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24 See Mat. 9:5.

24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up 25that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, 26glorifying God.

25 Namely, the bed, with what belonged to it.

26 Or, praising.

26And they were all 27amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen 28strange things to day.

27 Or, enraptured by the senses.

28 The Greek word signifies things which are beyond common opinion or expectation.

27¶Andk after these things he 29went forth, and saw a publican,l named 30Levi, sitting at the receiptm of custom:n and he said unto him, Follow me.

k Mat. 9:9; Mark 2:14, 15.

29 Namely, towards the sea at Capernaum. See Mark 2:1, 13.

l tax collector*

30 Otherwise also called Matthew, a son of Alphæus. Of this whole history, see Mat. 9:9; Mark 2:14.

m tax office, place of toll

n tribute, tax, toll

28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: ando there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

o Mat. 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 15:1.

30But 31their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31 Namely, from among the large company, which was there.

31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are 32sick.

32 Gr. they who are seasonally ill, or ill-disposed.

32 Ip came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

p Mat. 9:13; Luke 19:10; 1 Tim. 1:15.

33¶Andq they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John 33fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine 34eat and drink?

q Mat. 9:14.

33 Namely, with extraordinary, strict fasting, and which is done at set times.

34 That is, live as other ordinary people.

34And he said unto them, Canr ye make the 35children of the bridechambers fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

r Isa. 62:5; 2 Cor. 11:2.

35 Gr. sons of the marriage chamber. See Mat. 9:15.

s bridal room; – children of the bride-chamber: wedding guests

35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

36¶And he spake also a 36parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

36 Or, similitude, whereof see the application in Mat. 9:16; Mark 2:19.

37And no man putteth newt wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

t Mat. 9:17; Mark 2:22.

38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is 37better.

37 That is, more acceptable, by reason that one is used to it; or, more wholesome.