Luke 4:40

Luke 4:40, in plain English

As the sun went down, the whole town brought their sick to Jesus. He didn't rush through — He laid His hands on each person, one by one, and healed them all.

Why it's here

People waited until sunset because the Sabbath was ending. The moment they were free to travel, they came running to Jesus.

Who's speaking

Luke paints a picture of Jesus' compassionate, individual attention to every person who came.

Where it sits in the story

Imagine the scene: a long line of hurting people, and Jesus giving each one His full attention. You were never just a number to Him. Every person mattered, every touch was intentional.

The scholarly reading

The sunset timing is halakhically significant — Sabbath ended at sundown, after which carrying the sick was permitted. Jesus' individualized laying on of hands (heni hekastō) emphasizes personal attention amid mass healing.

Language and setting

This summary verse describes the culmination of Jesus' first full day of ministry in Capernaum, transitioning from individual healings to a communal healing event.

Voice

Luke narrates a summary scene of Jesus healing crowds after sunset.

Significance

The entire city gathers at sunset, bringing their sick to Jesus. Despite the overwhelming numbers, He touches each person individually, refusing to treat suffering as merely a collective problem.

38After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,

39and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.

41Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

42At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.

Read all of Luke 4 — Jesus reads from Isaiah in his hometown synagogue and claims the prophecy is fulfilled in himself. The congregation tries to throw him off a cliff.