Luke 4:32
New International Version
They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

New Living Translation
There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.

English Standard Version
and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

Berean Standard Bible
They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

Berean Literal Bible
and they were astonished at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

King James Bible
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

New King James Version
And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

New American Standard Bible
and they were amazed at His teaching, because His message was delivered with authority.

NASB 1995
and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

NASB 1977
and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

Amplified Bible
and they were surprised [almost overwhelmed] at His teaching, because His message was [given] with authority and power and great ability.

Christian Standard Bible
They were astonished at his teaching because his message had authority.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They were astonished at His teaching because His message had authority.

American Standard Version
and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.

Contemporary English Version
His teaching amazed them because he spoke with power.

English Revised Version
and they were astonished at his teaching; for his word was with authority.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The people were amazed at his teachings because he spoke with authority.

Good News Translation
They were all amazed at the way he taught, because he spoke with authority.

International Standard Version
They were utterly amazed at what he taught, because his message was spoken with authority.

Majority Standard Bible
They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

NET Bible
They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.

New Heart English Bible
and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Weymouth New Testament
And they were greatly impressed by His teaching, because He spoke with the language of authority.

World English Bible
and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they were astonished at His teaching, because His word was with authority.

Berean Literal Bible
and they were astonished at His teaching, for His message was with authority.

Young's Literal Translation
and they were astonished at his teaching, because his word was with authority.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they were struck with amazement at his teaching: for his word was with power.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his speech was with power.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they were astonished at his doctrine, for his word was spoken with authority.

New American Bible
and they were astonished at his teaching because he spoke with authority.

New Revised Standard Version
They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they were astonished at his teaching; because his word had power.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they were astonished at his teaching for his message was with authority.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.

Godbey New Testament
And they were astonished at His teaching; because His word was with authority.

Haweis New Testament
And they were struck with astonishment at his teaching; for his discourse was with authority.

Mace New Testament
and they were astonished at his doctrine, for he spoke with authority.

Weymouth New Testament
And they were greatly impressed by His teaching, because He spoke with the language of authority.

Worrell New Testament
and they were astonished at His teaching, because His word was with authority.

Worsley New Testament
and they were astonished at his doctrine; for He spake with authority.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
31Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. 32 They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority. 33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,…

Cross References
Matthew 7:28-29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, / because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Mark 1:22
The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

John 7:46
“Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.

Matthew 13:54
Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

Mark 6:2
When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard Him were astonished. “Where did this man get these ideas?” they asked. “What is this wisdom He has been given? And how can He perform such miracles?

John 6:63
The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.

Matthew 22:33
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Acts 2:12
Astounded and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

John 3:34
For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

Matthew 11:1
After Jesus had finished instructing His twelve disciples, He went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

John 7:15
The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

Acts 4:13
When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Deuteronomy 18:18
I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. I will put My words in his mouth, and he will tell them everything I command him.


Treasury of Scripture

And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Luke 4:36
And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Jeremiah 23:28,29
The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD…

Matthew 7:28,29
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: …

Jump to Previous
Amazed Astonished Authority Capernaum Doctrine Frequently Galilee Message Power Sabbath Surprised Taught Teaching Word
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Amazed Astonished Authority Capernaum Doctrine Frequently Galilee Message Power Sabbath Surprised Taught Teaching Word
Luke 4
1. The fasting and temptation of Jesus.
14. He begins to preach.
16. The people of Nazareth marvel at words, but seek to kill him.
33. He cures one possessed of a demon,
38. Peter's mother-in-law,
40. and various other sick persons.
41. The demons acknowledge Jesus, and are reproved for it.
42. He preaches through the cities of Galilee.














They were astonished
The Greek word used here is "ἐξεπλήσσοντο" (exeplēssonto), which conveys a sense of being struck with amazement or overwhelmed. This reaction is significant because it highlights the profound impact Jesus' words had on His audience. In the historical context, Jewish teachers often relied on quoting other rabbis or traditions to establish credibility. Jesus, however, spoke with a directness and clarity that was both new and compelling, leaving His listeners in awe.

at His teaching
The term "teaching" comes from the Greek "διδαχή" (didachē), which refers to doctrine or instruction. Jesus' teaching was not merely informative but transformative, challenging the established norms and inviting listeners into a deeper understanding of God's kingdom. His teaching was rooted in the Hebrew Scriptures but brought a fresh perspective that fulfilled and expanded upon the Law and the Prophets.

because His message
The word "message" is translated from the Greek "λόγος" (logos), which can mean word, speech, or reason. In the context of the New Testament, "logos" often refers to the divine word or revelation. Jesus' message was not just a collection of wise sayings but the living Word of God, embodying truth and life. This aligns with the prologue of John's Gospel, where Jesus is identified as the "Logos" made flesh.

had authority
The Greek word for "authority" is "ἐξουσία" (exousia), which implies power, jurisdiction, or the right to act. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, who derived their authority from tradition and interpretation, Jesus' authority was inherent and divine. This authority was evident not only in His teaching but also in His miracles and His command over spiritual forces. Historically, this was a radical departure from the norm, as it signified that Jesus was not just another teacher but one who spoke with the very authority of God Himself.

(32) At his doctrine.--Better, His teaching, as elsewhere. The form and manner was what amazed men.

His word was with power.--The word used is the same as the "authority" of Matthew 7:29. There was no timid references to the traditions of the elders or the dictum of this or that scribe, such as they were familiar with in the sermons they commonly heard in their synagogues.

Verse 32. - And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. We have here again a picture which gives a general summary of Jesus' life extending over a considerable period. This is the fifth of these pictures of St. Luke. It represents the Master dwelling quietly at Capernaum, in the midst of his disciples, teaching and preaching; on the sabbath days gathering a considerable concourse drawn from the people at large, and generally surprising the listeners with his earnestness, freshness, and ability, which carried conviction into many a heart, Gentile as well as Jew. Although this period of the life of Jesus was signalized by many miracles, it does not seem that his ordinary preaching and teaching needed any such supernatural testimony to enable it to win its way. St. Luke especially tells us it was with power, and that the crowds heard it amazed and astonished. St. Matthew gives us (Matthew 7:29) one reason, which helps us to understand something of this success which attended his teaching. It was "not as the scribes." In the Talmud we have many a fair specimen of the sacred instruction of the "schools" in the time of our Lord. Frivolous minutiae, hair-splitting of texts, weary repetition of the sayings of the men of old, questions connected with the exact keeping of the sabbath, with the tithing of mint, anise, and cummin, a singular lack of all dealing with the weightier matters of the Law - justice, judgment, truth - were among the characteristics of the scribes' popular instruction. The practical heart-searching words of Jesus were in strong contrast with the curious but useless themes dwelt on by the official teachers of the day. It was with the thirty-first verse of this chapter that the great Gnostic heretic, Marcion (second century) began his Gospel, which, in the early days of Christianity, had a vast circulation. Marcion, while preferring St. Luke's Gospel, as emanating from St. Paul, before putting it out as the authoritative history to be used by his numerous followers, cut out the earlier chapters of our Gospel, which bore on the birth and infancy of the Lord, commencing here - prefixing, however, a note of time, thus: "In the fifteenth year of the government of Tiberius, Jesus went down" (Marcioh probably intended it to be understood from heaven) "into the town of Galilee named Capernaum."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
They were astonished
ἐξεπλήσσοντο (exeplēssonto)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1605: To strike with panic or shock; I amaze, astonish. From ek and plesso; to strike with astonishment.

at
ἐπὶ (epi)
Preposition
Strong's 1909: On, to, against, on the basis of, at.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

teaching,
διδαχῇ (didachē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1322: Teaching, doctrine, what is taught. From didasko; instruction.

because
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

message
λόγος (logos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

had
ἦν (ēn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

authority.
ἐξουσίᾳ (exousia)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 1849: From exesti; privilege, i.e. force, capacity, competency, freedom, or mastery, delegated influence.


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