^10:18So⁵⁶ he said to them, “I saw⁵⁷ Satan fall⁵⁸ like lightning⁵⁹ from heaven. ^10:19Look, I have given you authority to tread⁶⁰ on snakes and scorpions⁶¹ and on the full force of the enemy,⁶² and nothing will⁶³ hurt you. ^10:20Nevertheless, do not rejoice that⁶⁴ the spirits submit to you, but rejoice⁶⁵ that your names stand written⁶⁶ in heaven.”

Read in Logos

Luke 10:20: Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven…

Footnotes

56 Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ reply in vv. 18–20 follows from the positive report of the messengers in v. 17.
57 This is an imperfect tense verb.
58 In Greek, this is a participle and comes at the end of the verse, making it somewhat emphatic.
59 This is probably best taken as allusion to Isa 14:12; the phrase in common is ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ek tou ouranou). These exorcisms in Jesus’ name are a picture of Satan’s greater defeat at Jesus’ hands (D. L. Bock, Luke [], 2:).
60 Or perhaps, “trample on” (which emphasizes the impact of the feet on the snakes). See L&N 15.226.
61 Snakes and scorpions are examples of the hostility in the creation that is defeated by Jesus. The use of battle imagery shows who the kingdom fights against. See Acts 28:3–6.
62 Or “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and [authority] over the full force of the enemy.” The second prepositional phrase can be taken either as modifying the infinitive πατεῖν (patein, “to tread”) or the noun ἐξουσίαν (exousian, “power”). The former is to be preferred and has been represented in the translation. The enemy is a reference to Satan (mentioned in v. 18).
63 This is an emphatic double negative in the Greek text.
64 Grk “do not rejoice in this, that.” This is awkward in contemporary English and has been simplified to “do not rejoice that.”
65 The verb here is a present imperative, so the call is to an attitude of rejoicing.
66 The verb here, a perfect tense, stresses a present reality of that which was a completed action, that is, their names were etched in the heavenly stone, as it were.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning. Look, I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy; nothing at all will harm you. However, don’t rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

NLTNew Living Translation

“Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

So he said to them, “I saw Satan falling like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you the authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will ever harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are inscribed in heaven.”

KJV 1900King James Version

And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

Public Domain