Luke 8:24

Luke 8:24, in plain English

The disciples shook Jesus awake, crying out in terror that they were going to die. Jesus got up, spoke to the wind and waves, and everything went completely calm.

Why it's here

The same voice that taught in parables commanded the storm. The disciples were about to learn that the teacher in the boat had authority over all of creation.

Who's speaking

The disciples cry out to Jesus, and He commands the storm to stop.

Where it sits in the story

In sheer panic, the disciples woke Jesus up, convinced they were about to drown. He simply stood up, told the storm to stop, and it obeyed. Just like that, total silence.

The scholarly reading

The disciples' double vocative epistata, epistata ('Master, Master!') conveys urgent desperation. Jesus epitimaō ('rebukes') both the wind and the kludōn (raging waves), using the same authoritative command He employed against demons, and galēnē ('calm') results.

Language and setting

The verb epitimaō ('rebuke') is the same word used for exorcisms in Luke, suggesting the storm may have a demonic dimension. Jesus' authority over nature parallels divine authority over chaos waters in the OT (Psalm 89:9, 107:29).

Voice

The disciples cry out in fear, then Jesus speaks with commanding authority to the storm.

Significance

Panicking, the disciples woke Jesus screaming that they were about to die. Jesus rose and rebuked the wind and waves as if commanding an unruly spirit, and instantly everything went still.

22One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.

23As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

24The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

25“Where is your faith?” He asked.

26Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

Read all of Luke 8 — A storm, a legion of demons, a bleeding woman, and a dead girl — Jesus moves through a world of chaos and brings order with a word or a touch.