Introduction

Luke chapter 9 marks a significant turning point in the Gospel, as Jesus expands His ministry through His disciples and begins to prepare them for His coming suffering, death, and resurrection. The chapter opens with Jesus sending out the twelve apostles, giving them authority over demons and disease, and instructing them to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick, relying entirely on God’s provision rather than their own resources.

The narrative then shifts to King Herod’s confusion about Jesus’ identity, followed by the return of the apostles and the feeding of the five thousand, a miracle demonstrating Jesus’ compassion and divine power to provide abundantly from very little. This event leads to a pivotal moment when Peter confesses Jesus as “the Christ of God,” marking a turning point in the disciples’ understanding of who Jesus truly is. Immediately after, Jesus begins to teach plainly about His coming suffering, death, and resurrection, and calls His followers to a life of self denial and total commitment, teaching that true life is found in losing one’s life for His sake.

The chapter continues with the Transfiguration, where Jesus is revealed in divine glory before Peter, James, and John, accompanied by Moses and Elijah, and confirmed by the voice of God the Father. This event strengthens the disciples’ understanding of Jesus’ divine identity before He begins His journey toward Jerusalem and the cross.

Following the Transfiguration, Jesus heals a boy possessed by an unclean spirit, again teaches about His coming death, and addresses the disciples’ misunderstanding regarding greatness in the kingdom of God. The chapter closes with several sayings about the cost and seriousness of discipleship, as Jesus responds firmly to would be followers who hesitate or place other priorities above wholehearted commitment to Him.

Chapter 9 (BBE)

1 And getting the twelve together, he gave them power and authority over all evil spirits, and to make well those who were ill.

2 And he sent them out to give the good news of the kingdom of God, and to make well those who were diseased.

3 And he said to them, Take nothing for your journey, no stick, or bag, or bread, or money; and do not take two coats.

4 And whatever house you go into, make that your resting-place, till you go away.

5 And wherever they will not take you in, when you go away from that town, shake off the dust from your feet as a witness against them.

6 And they went on their way through the towns, giving the good news and making people free from disease in all places.

7 Now Herod the king had news of all these things, and he was greatly troubled because it was said by some that John had come back from the dead;

8 And by some, that Elijah had let himself be seen; and by others, that one of the old prophets had come back to life.

9 And Herod said, John I put to death: but who is this, about whom such things are said? And he had a great desire to see him.

10 And when the Apostles came back, they gave him an account of all the things they had done. And he took them with him and went out of the way into a waste place, to a town named Beth-saida.

11 But the people, hearing of it, went after him: and he was glad to see them, and gave them teaching about the kingdom of God, and made well those who were in need of it.

12 And the day was coming to an end, and the twelve came to him and said, Send the people away, so that they may go into the country and towns round about and get resting-places and food, for there is nothing to eat in this waste place.

13 But he said to them, Give them food yourselves. And they said, We have only five cakes of bread and two fishes, if we do not go and get food for all these people.

14 For there were about five thousand men. And he said to his disciples, Let them be seated in groups, about fifty to a group.

15 And they did so, and made them all be seated.

16 And he took the five cakes of bread and the two fishes, and, looking up to heaven, he said words of blessing over them, and, breaking them, he gave them to the disciples to give to the people.

17 And they all took food, and had enough; and they took up of the broken bits which were over, twelve baskets full.

18 And it came about, when he was at prayer by himself, his disciples came together to him, and he put a question to them, saying, Who do the people say that I am?

19 And they made answer and said, Some say John the Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, that one of the old prophets has come back to life.

20 And he said to them, But who do you say that I am? And Peter, answering, said, The Christ of God.

21 But he gave them special orders not to say this to anyone;

22 Saying, The Son of man will undergo much suffering, and be rejected by this generation and the chief priests and the scribes, and be put to death, and on the third day he will come back from the dead.

23 And he said to all, If any man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross day by day, and come after me.

24 For whoever has a desire to keep his life will lose it; but whoever gives up his life because of me, will have it given back to him.

25 For what profit has a man if he gets all the world, and undergoes loss or destruction himself?

26 For whoever has a feeling of shame because of me and my words, the Son of man will have a feeling of shame because of him, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

27 But truly I say to you, There are some here who will have no taste of death till they see the kingdom of God.

28 And about eight days after he had said this, he took Peter and John and James and went up into a mountain to pray.

29 And while he was praying, his face was changed and his clothing became white and shining.

30 And two men were talking with him, and these were Moses and Elijah,

31 Who were seen in glory, and were talking of his end which he was about to undergo in Jerusalem.

32 Now Peter and those who were with him were sleeping; but on becoming awake, they saw his glory and the two men who were with him.

33 And while they were departing from him, Peter said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tents; one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah: not seeing what he was saying.

34 And while he was saying this, a cloud came over them and covered them with its shade, and they were full of fear when it came over them.

35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my Son, the chosen one, give ear to him.

36 And after the voice had said this, no one was seen but Jesus only. And they kept quiet about it, and said nothing at that time to any man of the things which they had seen.

37 Now on the day after, when they came down from the mountain, a great number of people came to him.

38 And a man of the number gave a loud cry, and said, Master, I make prayer to you, for my son, on whom I have put all my hopes, for he is my only child:

39 For an evil spirit takes him, and suddenly he gives a cry, and he is twisted with pain, and sends out a mass of froth, and it is hard to make the spirit go out of him, and he is broken and torn.

40 And I made a request to your disciples to send it out of him, but they were not able.

41 And Jesus said, O generation without faith, twisted out of the right way, how long will I be with you and put up with you? let your son come here.

42 And while he was coming, the evil spirit threw him down and gave him great pain. But Jesus gave orders to the unclean spirit, and made the boy well, and gave him back to his father.

43 And they were all full of wonder at the great power of God. But he said to his disciples,

44 Let these words go deep into your minds, for the Son of man will be given up into the hands of men.

45 But they did not have any idea what he meant, and it was kept covered from them, so that they were not able to see it, and they had fear of questioning him about this saying.

46 Then there came into their minds the question, which of them would be greatest.

47 But Jesus saw what was in their minds, and put a young child by his side,

48 And said to them, Whoever takes this child in my name, takes me; and whoever takes me, takes him who sent me: for whoever is least among you all, he is great.

49 And John, answering, said, Master, we saw one driving out spirits in your name; and we said that he might not, because he was not with us and you.

50 But Jesus said, Do not say he may not: for he who is not against you is for you.

51 Now when the days were coming near for him to be taken up, his face was turning to go to Jerusalem,

52 And he sent men before: and they went into a small town of Samaria, to make ready for him.

53 But they would not take him in, because his face was turned to go to Jerusalem.

54 And when his disciples saw this, they said, Lord, will you have us give an order for fire to come down from heaven and put an end to them?

55 But he was turned and said sharp words to them.

56 And they went to another small town.

57 And when they were on the way, a certain man said to him, I will come after you wherever you go.

58 And Jesus said, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have resting-places; but the Son of man has nowhere to put his head.

59 And he said to another, Come after me. But he said, Let me first go and give the last honours to my father.

60 But he said to him, Let the dead take care of their dead; but you go and give news of the kingdom of God in all places.

61 And another man said, I will come after you, Lord; but let me first say a last good-day to those who are at my house.

62 But Jesus said, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and then looking back, is good enough for the kingdom of God.

Important Verses

• Luke 9:20 “But who do you say that I am? And Peter, answering, said, The Christ of God.” This confession marks a crucial turning point in the disciples’ recognition of Jesus’ true identity.
• Luke 9:23-24 Jesus’ call to take up one’s cross daily and lose one’s life for His sake establishes the foundational cost and paradox of true discipleship.
• Luke 9:35 “This is my Son, the chosen one, give ear to him.” God’s declaration at the Transfiguration confirms Jesus’ divine authority and calls for obedience to His word.
• Luke 9:48 “Whoever is least among you all, he is great.” Jesus redefines greatness in the kingdom of God as humility and childlike dependence rather than status or power.
• Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and then looking back, is good enough for the kingdom of God.” This verse underscores the seriousness and undivided commitment required of true discipleship.