Bible Strands
Luke 11:1
One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus is in an unspecified location after concluding a prayer when one of His disciples approaches Him. The disciple asks Jesus to instruct him and the others in prayer, explicitly comparing the request to how John the Baptist trained his followers.
The words — ἐγένετο (egeneto) translates literally to "it came to pass," functioning as the narrative marker for the disciples' request. τόπῳ (topō) means "a place," specifying the undefined physical setting where the encounter occurs.
The thread — This request for prayer instruction aligns with passages that address the need for guided or Spirit-assisted intercession, including Psalms 19:14, Romans 8:26, and Luke 22:39.
Why it lands — The text records a direct request for structured prayer instruction rather than spontaneous devotion. It requires the reader to acknowledge dependence on a teacher for proper spiritual communication and to actively seek training in how to pray.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And it came to pass, that, as he was praying in a certain place, when he ceased, one of his disciples said unto him, Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.
Cross-references
- Psalms 19:14 May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
- Romans 8:26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.
- Luke 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed Him.
- Jude 1:20 But you, beloved, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit,
- Luke 6:12 In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.
- Luke 9:18 One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- James 4:2 You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.
- Luke 9:28 About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.
- Psalms 10:17 You have heard, O LORD, the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline Your ear,
- Hebrews 5:7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.