Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Luke 8
Public-domain commentary by Albert Barnes.
Commentary Notes
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.
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
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
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 5
Verses 4-15. See the parable of the Sower explained in Barnes Notes on
See Barnes on " Mt 13:1, and following.
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
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 7
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 8
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 9
Verse 8. No Barnes text on this verse.
{h} "an hundred fold"
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 10
Verse 9. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 11
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 12
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 13
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 14
Verse 13. No Barnes text on this verse.
{o} "receive the word with joy"
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
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 16
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
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
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"
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
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 21
Verse 20. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 22
Verse 21. No Barnes text on this verse.
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"
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 24
Verse 23. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 25
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 26
Verse 25. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 27
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 28
Verse 27. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 29
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 30
Verse 29. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 31
Verse 30. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 32
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 33
Verse 32. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 34
Verse 33. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 35
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 36
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 37
Verse 36. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 38
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 39
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 40
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.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 42
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 43
Verse 42. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 44
Verse 43. No Barnes text on this verse.
{m} "had spent"
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 45
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 46
Verse 45. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 47
Verse 46. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 48
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 49
Verse 48. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 50
Verse 49. No Barnes text on this verse.
{s} "while she yet spoke"
{t} "ruler of the synagogue" Lu 8:41,42
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 51
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 52
Verse 51. No Barnes text on this verse.
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 53
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 54
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 55
THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO LUKE - Chapter 8 - Verse 56
Verse 55. No Barnes text on this verse.