They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
Parallel translations
- WEB and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.
- KJV And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
- NKJV And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
- NASB and they were amazed at His teaching, because His message was delivered with authority.
- NLT There, too, the people were amazed at his teaching, for he spoke with authority.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The people are astonished at His teaching, for His word carries authority. Jesus speaks with a power unlike the scribes.
Overview
Jesus' hearers are amazed because His word bears inherent authority, not merely citing tradition. He teaches as one who speaks for God, with the weight of divine truth. This authority will be confirmed immediately by His command over an unclean spirit.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Luke 4:36All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
- Matt 7:28–29When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,
- 2 Cor 10:4–5The weapons of our warfare are not the weapons of the world. Instead, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
- John 6:63The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
- Heb 4:12–13For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Titus 2:15Speak these things as you encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.
- 1 Th 1:5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction—just as you know we lived among you for your sake.
- 1 Cor 14:24–25But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
- Mark 1:22The people were astonished at His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
- 2 Cor 4:2Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
- Jer 23:28–29Let the prophet who has a dream retell it, but let him who has My word speak it truthfully. For what is straw compared to grain?” declares the LORD.
- 1 Cor 2:4–5My message and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power,
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 4:32 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.