Luke 9:11

But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — After withdrawing privately to Bethsaida with the Twelve, Jesus is located by the crowds who pursue Him. He responds to their arrival by addressing their spiritual needs and treating their physical ailments.

The words — ἀποδεξάμενος (apodexamenos) translates literally as "having received," describing His deliberate welcome of the unexpected visitors. ἠκολούθησαν (ēkolouthēsan) means "they followed," indicating the crowds' active pursuit after discovering His location.

The thread — The proclamation of the kingdom aligns with Isaiah 61:1, which defines the Messiah’s anointing to preach good news, and Matthew 21:43, which warns the kingdom will be transferred to a fruit-bearing people. The crowd's movement to intercept Jesus parallels the pursuit described in Mark 6:33.

Why it lands — The text requires readers to acknowledge that Jesus' authority governs both spiritual instruction and physical restoration. It demands a response of active pursuit rather than passive observation, regardless of disrupted schedules.

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 the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them that had need of healing.

Cross-references

Isaiah 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,
Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.
Mark 6:33 But many people saw them leaving and recognized them. They ran together on foot from all the towns and arrived before them.
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.
Luke 8:1 Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,
Luke 9:2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Matthew 14:14 When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick.
Matthew 21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.
Luke 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things, but has sent the rich away empty.
Luke 8:10 He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’