Barnes Commentary

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Luke 8

Public-domain commentary by Albert Barnes.

Commentary Notes

v1

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 2

Verse 1. Every city and village . Of Galilee.

Preaching and showing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God .

That the kingdom of God was about to come, or that his reign in the gospel was about to be set up over men. See Barnes "Mt 3:2" .

The twelve . The twelve apostles.

Matt 3 2
v2

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 3

Verse 2. Infirmities . Sickness.

Mary called Magdalene . So called from Magdala, the place of her residence. It was situated on the Sea of Galilee, south of Capernaum. To this place Jesus retired after feeding the four thousand. See Barnes "Mt 15:39" .

Out of whom went . By the power of Jesus.

Seven devils . The word seven is often used for an indefinite number, and may signify merely many devils.

The expression is used to signify that she was grievously tormented, and rendered, doubtless, insane by the power of evil spirits. See Barnes "Mt 4:24" .

It has been commonly supposed that Mary Magdalene was a woman of abandoned character, but of this there is not the least evidence. All that we know of her is that she was formerly grievously afflicted by the presence of those evil spirits, that she was perfectly cured by Jesus, and that afterward she became one of his most faithful and humble followers. She was at his crucifixion (Joh 19:25) and burial (Mr 15:47), and she was among those who had prepared the materials to embalm him (Mr 16:1), and who first went to the sepulchre after the resurrection; and what is particularly interesting in her history, she was the first to whom the risen Redeemer appeared (Mr 16:9), and his conversation with her is exceeded in interest and pathos by no massage of history, sacred or profane, Joh 20:11-18.

{a} "certain woman" Mt 27:55 {b} "out of whom went seven devils" Mr 16:9; Lu 8:30

Matt 15 39Matt 4 24John 19 25Mark 15 47Mark 16 1Mark 16 9John 20 11-John 20 18Matt 27 55Luke 8 30
v3

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 4

Verse 3. Herod's Steward . Herod Antipas, who reigned in Galilee. He was a son of Herod the Great. The word steward means one who has charge of the domestic affairs of a family, to provide for it. This office was generally held by a slave who was esteemed the most faithful, and was often conferred as a reward of fidelity.

Ministered . Gave for his support.

Of their substance . Their property; their possessions. Christians then believed, when they professed to follow christ, that it was proper to give all up to him—that is, to commit all that we have to his disposal; to be willing to part with it for the promotion of his glory, and to leave it when he calls us away from it.

{c} "ministered" 2 Co 8:9

2Cor 8 9
v4

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 5

Verses 4-15. See the parable of the Sower explained in Barnes Notes on

Mt 13:1-23.

See Barnes on " Mt 13:1, and following.

Matt 13 1-Matt 13 23Matt 13 1
v5

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 6

Verse 5. No Barnes text on this verse.

{d} "sower" Mt 13:3; Mr 4:3 {e} "trodden down" Ps 119:118; Mt 5:13

Matt 13 3Mark 4 3Ps 119 118Matt 5 13
v6

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 7

Verse 6. No Barnes text on this verse.

{f} "rock"

Jer 5:3

Jer 5 3
v7

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 8

Verse 7. No Barnes text on this verse.

{???} "among thorns"

Jer 4:3

Jer 4 3
v8

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 9

Verse 8. No Barnes text on this verse.

{h} "an hundred fold"

Ge 26:12

{l} "He that hath ears to hear" Mt 13:18; Mr 4:14

Gen 26 12Matt 13 18Mark 4 14
v9

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 10

Verse 9. No Barnes text on this verse.

v10

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 11

Verse 10. No Barnes text on this verse.

{k} "seeing they might not see"

Is 6:9

.

Isa 6 9
v11

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 12

Verse 11. No Barnes text on this verse.

{l} "Now, the parable is this:"

Mt 13:18; Mr 4:14

{m} "seed" 1 Pe 1:23

Matt 13 18Mark 4 141Pet 1 23
v12

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 13

Verse 12. No Barnes text on this verse.

{n} "taketh"

Pr 4:5; Isa 65:11; Jas 1:23,24

Prov 4 5Isa 65 11Jas 1 23Jas 1 24
v13

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 14

Verse 13. No Barnes text on this verse.

{o} "receive the word with joy"

Ps 106:12,13; Is 58:2; Ga 3:1,4; 4:15

{p} "have no root" Pr 12:3; Hos 6:4

Ps 106 12Ps 106 13Isa 58 2Gal 3 1Gal 3 4Gal 4 15Prov 12 3Hos 6 4
v14

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 15

Verse 14. No Barnes text on this verse.

{q} "are choked"

1 Ti 6:9,10; 2 Ti 4:10; 1 Jo 2:15-17

{r} "bring no fruit" Joh 15:16

1Tim 6 91Tim 6 102Tim 4 101John 2 15-1John 2 17John 15 16
v15

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 16

Verse 15. No Barnes text on this verse.

{s} "honest"

Jer 32:39

{t} "patience" He 10:36; Jas 1:4

Jer 32 39Jas 1 4
v16

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 17

Verse 16. No Barnes text on this verse.

See Barnes "Mr 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

{u} "No man" Mt 5:15; Mr 4:21; Lu 11:23

Mark 4 21Mark 4 22-Mark 4 25Matt 5 15Luke 11 23
v17

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 18

Verse 17. No Barnes text on this verse.

See Barnes "Mr 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

{v} "nothing is secret" Ec 12:4; Mt 10:26

Mark 4 21Mark 4 22-Mark 4 25Eccl 12 4Matt 10 26
v18

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 19

Verse 18. No Barnes text on this verse.

See Barnes "Mr 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

{w} "take heed" Jas 1:21-25 {x} "whosoever hath" Mt 13:12; 25:29; Lu 19:26

{1} "seemeth to have", or "thinketh that he hath"

Mark 4 21Mark 4 22-Mark 4 25Jas 1 21-Jas 1 25Matt 13 12Matt 25 29Luke 19 26
v19

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 20

Verse 19. No Barnes text on this verse.

See Barnes "Mt 12:46, and Mt 12:47-50

{y} "Then came to him" Mt 12:46; Mr 3:32

Matt 12 46Matt 12 47-Matt 12 50Mark 3 32
v20

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 21

Verse 20. No Barnes text on this verse.

v21

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 22

Verse 21. No Barnes text on this verse.

v22

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 23

Verses 22-39. See this passage explained in the Barnes Notes on

See Barnes "Mt 8:23"

See Barnes " Mt 8:24

See Barnes "Mr 5:1, also Mr 5:2-20.

Verse 22. No Barnes text on this verse.

{z} "Now it came to pass"

Mt 8:23; Mr 4:35

Matt 8 23Matt 8 24Mark 5 1Mark 5 2-Mark 5 20Mark 4 35
v23

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 24

Verse 23. No Barnes text on this verse.

v24

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 25

Verse 24. No Barnes text on this verse.

{a} "and awoke him"

Ps 44:23; Is 51:9,10

Ps 44 23Isa 51 9Isa 51 10
v25

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 26

Verse 25. No Barnes text on this verse.

v26

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 27

Verse 26. No Barnes text on this verse.

{b} "And they arrived"

Mt 8:28; Mr 5:1

Matt 8 28Mark 5 1
v27

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 28

Verse 27. No Barnes text on this verse.

v28

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 29

Verse 28. No Barnes text on this verse.

{c} "torment me not"

Is 27:1; Jas 2:19; Re 20:10

Isa 27 1Jas 2 19Rev 20 10
v29

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 30

Verse 29. No Barnes text on this verse.

v30

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 31

Verse 30. No Barnes text on this verse.

v31

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 32

Verse 31. No Barnes text on this verse.

{d} "out into the deep"

Re 20:3

Rev 20 3
v32

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 33

Verse 32. No Barnes text on this verse.

v33

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 34

Verse 33. No Barnes text on this verse.

v34

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 35

Verse 34. No Barnes text on this verse.

{e} "they fled"

Ac 19:16,17

Acts 19 16Acts 19 17
v35

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 36

Verse 35. No Barnes text on this verse.

{f} "right mind"

Ps 51:10

Ps 51 10
v36

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 37

Verse 36. No Barnes text on this verse.

v37

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 38

Verse 37. No Barnes text on this verse.

{g} "besought him to depart"

Ac 16:39

Acts 16 39
v38

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 39

Verse 38. No Barnes text on this verse.

{h} "besought him"

De 10:20,21; Ps 116:12,16

Deut 10 20Deut 10 21Ps 116 12Ps 116 16
v39

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 40

Verse 39. No Barnes text on this verse.

{k} "great things"

Ps 126:2,3

Ps 126 2Ps 126 3
v40

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 41

Verses 40-56. See this passage explained in the Notes on Mt 9:18-26 and Mr 5:21-43.

See Barnes "Mt 9:18, and Mt 9:19-26 See Barnes "Mr 5:21, and Mr 5:22-43

Verse 40. No Barnes text on this verse.

Matt 9 18-Matt 9 26Mark 5 21-Mark 5 43Matt 9 18Matt 9 19-Matt 9 26Mark 5 21Mark 5 22-Mark 5 43
v41

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 42

Verse 41. No Barnes text on this verse.

{l} "there came a man named Jarius" Mt 9:13; Mr 5:22

Matt 9 13Mark 5 22
v42

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 43

Verse 42. No Barnes text on this verse.

v43

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 44

Verse 43. No Barnes text on this verse.

{m} "had spent"

2 Ch 16:12; Is 55:2

{n} "physicians" Lu 6:19; 1 Pe 2:9

2Chr 16 12Isa 55 2Luke 6 191Pet 2 9
v44

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 45

Verse 44. No Barnes text on this verse.

{o} "immediately"

Mt 8:3; Lu 13:13

Matt 8 3Luke 13 13
v45

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 46

Verse 45. No Barnes text on this verse.

v46

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 47

Verse 46. No Barnes text on this verse.

v47

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 48

Verse 47. No Barnes text on this verse.

{q} "she was not hid"

Ps 38:9; Ho 5:3

Ps 38 9Hos 5 3
v48

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 49

Verse 48. No Barnes text on this verse.

v49

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 50

Verse 49. No Barnes text on this verse.

{s} "while she yet spoke"

Mt 9:23; Mr 5:35

{t} "ruler of the synagogue" Lu 8:41,42

Matt 9 23Mark 5 35Luke 8 41Luke 8 42
v50

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 51

Verse 50. No Barnes text on this verse.

{u} "Fear not"

Joh 11:25; Ro 4:17

John 11 25Rom 4 17
v51

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 52

Verse 51. No Barnes text on this verse.

v52

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 53

Verse 52. No Barnes text on this verse.

{v} "sleepeth"

Joh 11:11,13

John 11 11John 11 13
v53

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 54

Verse 53. No Barnes text on this verse.

{w} "laughed"

Ps 22:7; Lu 16:14

Ps 22 7Luke 16 14
v54

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 55

Verse 54. No Barnes text on this verse.

{x} "arise"

Lu 7:14; Joh 11:43

Luke 7 14John 11 43
v55

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 56

Verse 55. No Barnes text on this verse.

v56

THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 9

Verse 56. No Barnes text on this verse.

{y} "charged them"

Mt 8:4; 9:30; Mr 5:43

Matt 8 4Matt 9 30Mark 5 43