Luk 4:31-44 | TNotes | STEP | 4:31 Jesus moved from Nazareth to make Capernaum his base of operations during his Galilean ministry (see Mark 2:1 ).

4:31 ^a Jesus moved from Nazareth to make Capernaum his base of operations during his Galilean ministry (see Mark 2:1 ^b).
4:33 ^c an evil (literally unclean) spirit: Unclean means “defiled” or “wicked”; hence, the NLT translation “evil spirit.”
4:34 ^d Have you come to destroy us? Though there was only one demon present, the plural us suggests that all of Satan’s forces were aware and fearful of Jesus’ coming.

• I know who you are: A common ancient belief held that naming a spiritual power gave a person authority over it. The demon might have been attempting to gain power over Jesus.
4:36 ^e What authority and power this man’s words possess! Magicians and exorcists often used elaborate rituals and incantations. The people were amazed that Jesus merely spoke a word on his own authority and cast out the demon.
4:38 ^f Simon’s home: Simon was from Bethsaida (John 1:44 ^g), but his present home and fishing business were in Capernaum.

• Simon’s mother-in-law: Peter was married (see 1 Cor 9:5 ^h), but his wife is not named.
4:39 ⁱ he rebuked the fever: The same Greek word was used when Jesus rebuked the demon (4:35 ^j). Jesus has full authority over physical and spiritual forces.
4:41 ^k You are the Son of God! This was a title for the Messiah (see 2 Sam 7:14 ^l; Pss 2:7 ^m; 89:26-27 ⁿ). Luke often links the titles “Christ” and “Son of God” (Luke 9:35 ^o; 22:66-71 ^p; Acts 9:20 ^q, 22 ^r).

• he ... refused to let them speak: Jesus often showed his authority over demons by silencing them. He wanted to reveal his identity in his own way, not through their announcement.
4:43 ^s The Greek verb translated preach the Good News corresponds to the noun often translated “gospel” (“Good News”; see study note on 2:9-10; see also 1:19 ^t; 7:22 ^u; Matt 4:23 ^v; 24:14 ^w; Mark 1:1 ^x, 15 ^y; 16:15 ^z; Acts 8:4 ^aa, 12 ^ab; Rom 1:1-6 ^ac, 15-17 ^ad; 10:15-17 ^ae; Gal 1:6-9 ^af; Eph 2:14-18 ^ag; 3:6-7 ^ah).

• The Kingdom of God was Jesus’ central concern (see Mark 1:15 ^ai), and God’s sovereign reign was established through Jesus’ words and deeds.
4:44 ^aj Luke probably used Judea in the general sense of “the land of the Jews,” since Jesus’ ministry was then in Galilee in the north (see 5:1 ^ak), not south in Judea.