A Centurion’s Slave Healed

After he had finished all his statements in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum. Now a certain centurion’s slave, who was esteemed by him, was sick[a] and[b] was about to die. So when he[c] heard about Jesus, he sent Jewish elders to him, asking him that he would come and[d] cure his slave. And when they[e] came to Jesus, they began imploring[f] him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy that you grant this for him, because he loves our nation and he himself built the synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them. Now by this time he was not far away from the house, and[g] the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that you should come in under my roof. For this reason neither did I consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word and my slave must be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, who has soldiers under me, and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another one, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.”[h]

And when[i] Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning around to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith!” 10 And when they[j] returned to the house, those who had been sent found the slave healthy.

A Widow’s Son Raised

11 And it happened that on the next day he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went with him. 12 And as he approached the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, his mother’s only son, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 And when[k] the Lord saw her, he had compassion for her and said to her, “Do not weep!” 14 And he came up and[l] touched the bier, and those who were carrying it[m] stopped. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!” 15 And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and he gave him to his mother. 16 And fear seized them all, and they began to glorify[n] God, saying, “A great prophet has appeared among us!” and “God has visited to help his people!” 17 And this report about him went out in the whole of Judea and in all the surrounding region.

A Question from John the Baptist

18 And his disciples reported to John about all these things. And summoning a certain two of his disciples, John 19 sent them[o] to the Lord,[p] saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 20 And when[q] the men came to him, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?’” 21 In that hour he healed many people of diseases and suffering and evil spirits, and he granted sight to many blind people. 22 And he answered and[r] said to them, “Go and[s] tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear;[t] the dead are raised, the poor have good news announced to them.[u] 23 And whoever is not offended by me is blessed.”

24 And when[v] the messengers of John had departed, he began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 25 But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are in splendid clothing and luxury are in the royal palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and even more than a prophet! 27 It is this man about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’[w]

28 I tell you, there is no one greater among those born of women than John, but the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he. 29 (And all the people, when they[x] heard this[y]—even the tax collectors—affirmed the righteousness of God, because they[z] had been baptized with the baptism of John, 30 but the Pharisees and the legal experts rejected the purpose of God for themselves, because they[aa] had not been baptized by him.)

31 “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say,

‘We played the flute for you and you did not dance;
we sang a lament and you did not weep.’

33 For John the Baptist has come not eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34 The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Behold, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35 And wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

A Sinful Woman Anoints Jesus’ Feet

36 Now one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he entered into the house of the Pharisee and[ab] reclined at the table. 37 And behold, a woman in the town who was a sinner, when she[ac] learned that he was dining in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of perfumed oil, 38 and standing behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and was wiping them[ad] with the hair of her head and was kissing his feet and anointing them[ae] with the perfumed oil. 39 Now when[af] the Pharisee who invited him saw this,[ag] he spoke to himself, saying, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him, that she is a sinner.” 40 And Jesus answered and[ah] said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he said, “Teacher, say it.”[ai] 41 “There were two debtors who owed a certain creditor. One owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty. 42 When[aj] they were not able to repay him,[ak] he forgave the debts[al] of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered and[am] said, “I suppose that it is the one to whom he forgave more.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44 And turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house. You did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them[an] with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but from the time I entered, she has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with olive oil, but she anointed my feet with perfumed oil. 47 For this reason[ao] I tell you, her sins—which were many—have been forgiven, for she loved much. But the one to whom little is forgiven loves little.” 48 And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 And those who were reclining at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” 50 And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.”

Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:2 Literally “was having badly”
  2. Luke 7:2 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“was having”) has been translated as a finite verb
  3. Luke 7:3 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  4. Luke 7:3 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“come”) has been translated as a finite verb
  5. Luke 7:4 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  6. Luke 7:4 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began imploring”)
  7. Luke 7:6 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“away”) has been translated as a finite verb
  8. Luke 7:8 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  9. Luke 7:9 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  10. Luke 7:10 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“returned”) which is understood as temporal
  11. Luke 7:13 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  12. Luke 7:14 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“came up”) has been translated as a finite verb
  13. Luke 7:14 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  14. Luke 7:16 The imperfect tense has been translated as ingressive here (“began to glorify”)
  15. Luke 7:19 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  16. Luke 7:19 A number of significant manuscripts read “Jesus”
  17. Luke 7:20 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“came”) which is understood as temporal
  18. Luke 7:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  19. Luke 7:22 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“go”) has been translated as a finite verb
  20. Luke 7:22 Some manuscripts have “and the deaf hear”
  21. Luke 7:22 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  22. Luke 7:24 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“had departed”)
  23. Luke 7:27 A quotation from Mal 3:1; cf. Mark 1:2; Matt 11:10
  24. Luke 7:29 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“heard”) which is understood as temporal
  25. Luke 7:29 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  26. Luke 7:29 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“had been baptized”) which is understood as causal
  27. Luke 7:30 Here “because” is supplied as a component of the participle (“been baptized”) which is understood as causal
  28. Luke 7:36 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“entered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  29. Luke 7:37 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“learned”) which is understood as temporal
  30. Luke 7:38 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  31. Luke 7:38 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  32. Luke 7:39 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the participle (“saw”) which is understood as temporal
  33. Luke 7:39 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  34. Luke 7:40 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  35. Luke 7:40 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  36. Luke 7:42 Here “when” is supplied as a component of the temporal genitive absolute participle (“able”)
  37. Luke 7:42 *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  38. Luke 7:42 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  39. Luke 7:43 Here “and” is supplied because the previous participle (“answered”) has been translated as a finite verb
  40. Luke 7:44 Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation
  41. Luke 7:47 Literally “on account of which”

The Faith of the Centurion(A)

When Jesus had finished saying all this(B) to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” So Jesus went with them.

He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.(C) For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son(D)

11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her. 13 When the Lord(E) saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, “Don’t cry.”

14 Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, “Young man, I say to you, get up!”(F) 15 The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16 They were all filled with awe(G) and praised God.(H) “A great prophet(I) has appeared among us,” they said. “God has come to help his people.”(J) 17 This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.(K)

Jesus and John the Baptist(L)

18 John’s(M) disciples(N) told him about all these things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

20 When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

21 At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses(O) and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(P) 23 Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

24 After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. 26 But what did you go out to see? A prophet?(Q) Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
    who will prepare your way before you.’[b](R)

28 I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God(S) is greater than he.”

29 (All the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus’ words, acknowledged that God’s way was right, because they had been baptized by John.(T) 30 But the Pharisees and the experts in the law(U) rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.)

31 Jesus went on to say, “To what, then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:

“‘We played the pipe for you,
    and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge,
    and you did not cry.’

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine,(V) and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’(W) 35 But wisdom is proved right by all her children.”

Jesus Anointed by a Sinful Woman(X)(Y)

36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet,(Z) he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”

40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, teacher,” he said.

41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”

43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet,(AA) but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss,(AB) but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head,(AC) but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”(AD)

49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you;(AE) go in peace.”(AF)

Footnotes

  1. Luke 7:22 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  2. Luke 7:27 Mal. 3:1
  3. Luke 7:41 A denarius was the usual daily wage of a day laborer (see Matt. 20:2).