Luke 5:28
What does Luke 5:28 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:28 means
Levi immediately leaves everything, rises, and follows Jesus. The verse highlights decisive, total surrender in response to Jesus’ call. Levi’s immediate action mirrors the fishermen’s abandonment in verse 11 and shows that different social types—laborers and tax collectors—respond in the same radical way. Leaving ‘all’ implies both material and social ties forsaken. This act models repentance and discipleship: encountering Jesus produces instant allegiance that reorients life. Levi’s response also anticipates his later role as apostolic witness and host of a feast marking new fellowship.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And giving up his business, he got up and went after him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he, having left all, having arisen, did follow him.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And leaving all things, he rose up and followed him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And having left all, rising up, he followed him.
Context
Following the call in verse 27, Levi’s immediate obedience completes the pattern of radical following shown earlier. The narrative emphasizes continuity: Jesus calls, and people leave their previous life to follow. This sets up Levi’s hosting of a feast, which will trigger criticism from the Pharisees and allow Jesus to explain his mission to sinners, clarifying that his company with outcasts has a purpose—to call them to repentance.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Kings 19:19
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.
- Luke 5:11
And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.
- Matthew 19:22
But when the young man heard the saying, he went away sorrowful; for he was one that had great possessions.
- Luke 9:59
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.
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