Luke 6:17–19

The Sermon on the Plain

6:17 Then55 he came down with them and stood on a level place.56 And a large number57 of his disciples had gathered58 along with59 a vast multitude from all over Judea, from60 Jerusalem,61 and from the seacoast of Tyre62 and Sidon.63 They came to hear him and to be healed64 of their diseases, 6:18 and those who suffered from65 unclean66 spirits were cured. 6:19 The67 whole crowd was trying to touch him, because power68 was coming out from him and healing them all.

55	tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
56	tn Or “on a plateau.” This could refer to a message given in a flat locale or in a flat locale in the midst of a more mountainous region (Jer 21:13; Isa 13:2). It is quite possible that this sermon is a summary version of the better known Sermon on the Mount from Matt 5–7.
57	tn Grk “large crowd.”
58	tn There is no verb in Greek at this point, but since “a large crowd” (see preceding tn) is in the nominative case, one needs to be supplied.
59	tn Grk “and.”
60	tn Grk “and from,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more.
61	map For location see Map5-B1; Map6-F3; Map7-E2; Map8-F2; Map10-B3; JP1-F4; JP2-F4; JP3-F4; JP4-F4.
62	map For location see Map1-A2; Map2-G2; Map4-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
63	sn These last two locations, Tyre and Sidon, represented an expansion outside of traditional Jewish territory. Jesus’ reputation continued to expand into new regions. map For location see Map1-A1; JP3-F3; JP4-F3.
64	sn To hear him and to be healed. Jesus had a two-level ministry: The word and then wondrous acts of service that showed his message of God’s care were real.
65	tn Or “were oppressed by,” “were troubled with.” See L&N 22.17.
66	sn Unclean spirits refers to evil spirits. See Luke 4:33.
67	tn Grk “And the.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
68	sn There was a recognition that there was great power at work through Jesus, the subject of a great debate in 11:14–23. Luke highlights Jesus’ healing ministry (5:17; 6:18; 7:7; 8:47; 9:11, 42; 14:4; 17:15; 18:42–43; 22:51; Acts 10:38).