Luke 8

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. Mt 3:2.

The twelve. The twelve apostles.
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. 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. 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 (Jn 19:25) and burial (Mk 15:47), and she was among those who had prepared the materials to embalm him (Mk 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 (Mk 16:9), and his conversation with her is exceeded in interest and pathos by no massage of history, sacred or profane, Jn 20:11-18.

(a) "certain woman" Mt 27:55 (b) "out of whom went seven devils" Mk 16:9, Lk 8:30
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" 2Cor 8:9
Verses 4-15. See the parable of the Sower explained in Barnes Notes on Mt 13:1-23. Mt 13:1, and following. Verse 5.

(d) "sower" Mt 13:3, Mk 4:3 (e) "trodden down" Ps 119:118, Mt 5:13
Verse 6.

(f) "rock" Jer 5:3
Verse 7.

(???) "among thorns" Jer 4:3
Verse 8.

(h) "an hundred fold" Gen 26:12 (l) "He that hath ears to hear" Mt 13:18, Mk 4:14
Verse 10.

(k) "seeing they might not see" Is 6:9.
Verse 11.

(l) "Now, the parable is this:" Mt 13:18, Mk 4:14 (m) "seed" 1Pet 1:23
Verse 12.

(n) "taketh" Prov 4:5, Isa 65:11, Jas 1:23,24
Verse 13.

(o) "receive the word with joy" Ps 106:12,13, Is 58:2, Gal 3:1,4, 4:15 (p) "have no root" Prov 12:3, Hoss 6:4
Verse 14.

(q) "are choked" 1Timm 6:9,10, 2Ti 4:10, 1Jn 2:15-17 (r) "bring no fruit" Jn 15:16
Verse 15.

(s) "honest" Jer 32:39 (t) "patience" He 10:36, Jas 1:4
Verse 16.

Mk 4:21, and Mk 4:22-25

(u) "No man" Mt 5:15, Mk 4:21, Lk 11:23
Verse 17.

Mk 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

(v) "nothing is secret" Eccl 12:4, Mt 10:26
Verse 18.

Mk 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

(w) "take heed" Jas 1:21-25 (x) "whosoever hath" Mt 13:12, 25:29, Lk 19:26 (1) "seemeth to have", or "thinketh that he hath"
Verse 19.

Mt 12:46, and Mt 12:47-50

(y) "Then came to him" Mt 12:46, Mk 3:32
Verses 22-39. See this passage explained in the Barnes Notes on Mt 8:23 Mt 8:24 Mk 5:1, also Mk 5:2-20.

Verse 22.

(z) "Now it came to pass" Mt 8:23, Mk 4:35
Verse 24.

(a) "and awoke him" Ps 44:23, Is 51:9,10
Verse 26.

(b) "And they arrived" Mt 8:28, Mk 5:1
Verse 28.

(c) "torment me not" Is 27:1, Jas 2:19, Rev 20:10
Verse 31.

(d) "out into the deep" Rev 20:3
Verse 34.

(e) "they fled" Ac 19:16,17
Verse 35.

(f) "right mind" Ps 51:10
Verse 37.

(g) "besought him to depart" Acts 16:39
Verse 38.

(h) "besought him" De 10:20,21, Ps 116:12,16
Verse 39.

(k) "great things" Ps 126:2,3
Verses 40-56. See this passage explained in the Notes on Mt 9:18-26 and Mr 5:21-43.

Mt 9:18, and Mt 9:19-26 Mk 5:21, and Mr 5:22-43

Verse 40.
Verse 41.

(l) "there came a man named Jarius" Mt 9:13, Mk 5:22
Verse 43.

(m) "had spent" 2Chr 16:12, Is 55:2 (n) "physicians" Lk 6:19, 1Pet 2:9
Verse 44.

(o) "immediately" Mt 8:3, Lk 13:13
Verse 47.

(q) "she was not hid" Ps 38:9, Hos 5:3
Verse 49.

(s) "while she yet spoke" Mt 9:23, Mk 5:35 (t) "ruler of the synagogue" Lk 8:41,42
Verse 50.

(u) "Fear not" Jn 11:25, Rom 4:17
Verse 52.

(v) "sleepeth" Jn 11:11,13
Verse 53.

(w) "laughed" Ps 22:7, Lk 16:14
Verse 54.

(x) "arise" Lk 7:14, Jn 11:43
Verse 56.

(y) "charged them" Mt 8:4, 9:30, Mk 5:43
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