Luke 8:39

Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

Return {G5290} to {G1519} thine own {G4675} house {G3624}, and {G2532} shew {G1334} how great things {G3745} God {G2316} hath done {G4160} unto thee {G4671}. And {G2532} he went his way {G565}, and published {G2784} throughout {G2596} the whole {G3650} city {G4172} how great things {G3745} Jesus {G2424} had done {G4160} unto him {G846}.

"Go back to your home and tell how much God has done for you." He went away proclaiming throughout the whole town how much Yeshua had done for him.

“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

Return to thy house, and declare how great things God hath done for thee. And he went his way, publishing throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done for him.

Context

Luke 8:39 is the concluding verse of the remarkable account of Jesus' encounter with the demoniac in the country of the Gerasenes (or Gergesenes). Prior to this verse, Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee and met a man who had been terribly afflicted by many demons, living among the tombs and uncontrollable by anyone. Jesus cast out the "Legion" of demons into a herd of swine, which then rushed down a steep bank into the lake and drowned. The local inhabitants, witnessing this incredible display of power, were overcome with fear and asked Jesus to leave their region. The man who was healed, now in his right mind, desperately wanted to follow Jesus and remain with Him, as seen in Luke 8:38.

Key Themes and Messages

  • A Unique Commission: Unlike many other instances where Jesus instructed those He healed to keep silent about their miraculous recovery (e.g., Mark 1:44), here Jesus gives the man a direct command to return home and share his story. This highlights a specific mission for this individual in his own community.
  • The Power of Personal Testimony: Jesus understood the profound impact a transformed life could have on a skeptical or fearful community. The man's personal experience of liberation from a terrifying spiritual bondage served as a powerful witness to God's (and Jesus') mighty work.
  • God's Work Through Jesus: Jesus tells the man to declare "how great things God hath done unto thee," but the man immediately "published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him." This subtle yet significant detail underscores Jesus' divine identity and that His actions are intrinsically linked to, and indeed are, the actions of God. It's a powerful affirmation of Jesus' authority and divinity.
  • Witnessing Begins at Home: The command to "Return to thine own house" emphasizes that sharing the good news often starts with those closest to us and in the places we are most known. It's a call to be a light in one's immediate sphere of influence.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV word "published" in this verse comes from the Greek word diangello (διαγγέλλω), which means "to announce thoroughly," "to proclaim everywhere," or "to broadcast." It implies a widespread and public declaration, not just a quiet sharing with a few. This signifies the man's fervent and comprehensive effort to make known what Jesus had done for him, demonstrating his deep gratitude and newfound purpose.

Practical Application

Luke 8:39 offers timeless lessons for believers today:

  • Share Your Story: Like the Gerasene demoniac, we are called to be witnesses of God's transformative power in our own lives. Our personal testimony of how Jesus has changed us is a powerful tool for evangelism and can resonate deeply with others.
  • Witness Where You Are: While some are called to distant lands, this verse reminds us that our primary mission field often begins in our "own house" and community. We are to be light and salt in our families, workplaces, and neighborhoods.
  • Live Out Your Gratitude: The man's immediate obedience and enthusiasm to "publish" what Jesus had done speaks to a heart overflowing with gratitude. Our response to God's grace should be a fervent desire to make His goodness known.
  • Acknowledge Jesus' Divinity: Recognizing that the "great things God hath done" are manifested through "great things Jesus had done" helps us understand Jesus' unique role as God incarnate, deserving of all praise and worship.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • 1 Timothy 5:8

    But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

  • Luke 17:15

    And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

  • Luke 17:18

    There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

  • Deuteronomy 10:21

    He [is] thy praise, and he [is] thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

  • John 4:29

    Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

  • Mark 1:45

    But he went out, and began to publish [it] much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

  • Daniel 4:34

    ¶ And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion [is] an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom [is] from generation to generation:

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