Luke 5:17
What does Luke 5:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:17 means
On one of those days, Jesus was teaching and Pharisees and doctors of the law sat nearby from every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem; and the Lord’s power to heal was with him. Luke emphasizes broad interest among religious leaders in Jesus’ teaching, indicating growing scrutiny. Their presence from various regions shows Jesus’ notoriety. The phrase ‘the power of the Lord was with him to heal’ stresses that Jesus’ message is accompanied by divine authority—his words and acts are inseparable. This sets the stage for confrontation about spiritual authority and forgiveness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judæa and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judæa and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it came about that on one of these days he was teaching; and some Pharisees and teachers of the law were seated there, who had come from every town of Galilee and Judaea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was with him, to make those who were ill free from their diseases.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it came to pass, on one of the days, that he was teaching, and there were sitting by Pharisees and teachers of the Law, who were come out of every village of Galilee, and Judea, and Jerusalem, and the power of the Lord was--to heal them.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass on a certain day, as he sat teaching, that there were also Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, that were come out of every town of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was to heal them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass on one of the days, that he was teaching, and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and [out of] Jerusalem; and [the] Lord's power was [there] to heal them.
Context
Following a pattern of teaching and prayer, this verse introduces a new, more contentious scene: the arrival of religious leaders and a dramatic healing. The presence of Pharisees and doctors of the law heightens the stakes; their scrutiny will lead to theological dispute after Jesus heals the paralytic and pronounces forgiveness. Luke uses this setup to contrast Jesus’ effective authority with the religious establishment’s skepticism.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 6:19
And all the multitude sought to touch him; for power came forth from him, and healed them all.
- Acts 19:11
And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul:
- Luke 7:30
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected for themselves the counsel of God, being not baptized of him.
- Matthew 15:1
Then there come to Jesus from Jerusalem Pharisees and scribes, saying,
- John 3:21
But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
- Mark 7:1
And there are gathered together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem,
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 5
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 5.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Solitude
Solitude, often distinguished from loneliness, is a state of being alone that can be intentionally sought for spiritual growth and reflection.
Topic
Bible Verses About Children
God’s Word provides profound insights into the rearing, value, and blessing of children, as well as the responsibilities of both parents and children.
Topic
Bible Verses About Communion
Communion, often called the Lord's Supper, is a sacred practice remembering Jesus' sacrifice and looking forward to His return.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Prayer Feels Empty
When the words won't come — scripture for the dry prayer life.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Forgotten by God
When the prayers feel one-sided — verses for the quiet seasons.