Luke 8:51

And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.

And {G1161} when he came {G1525} into {G1519} the house {G3614}, he suffered {G863} no {G3756} man {G3762} to go in {G1525}, save {G1508} Peter {G4074}, and {G2532} James {G2385}, and {G2532} John {G2491}, and {G2532} the father {G3962} and {G2532} the mother {G3384} of the maiden {G3816}.

When he arrived at the house, he didn't allow anyone to go in with him except Kefa, Yochanan, Ya`akov and the child's father and mother

When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother.

And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.

Commentary

Luke 8:51 describes a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, setting the stage for one of His most profound miracles: the raising of Jairus's daughter. This verse highlights Jesus's control over the environment surrounding His divine acts, carefully selecting who would witness the restoration of life.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after Jesus receives news that Jairus's daughter has died, following His healing of the woman with an issue of blood. Despite the grim report, Jesus tells Jairus, "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole." Upon arriving at the house, Jesus encounters a scene of mourning and wailing. Rather than performing the miracle before the entire grieving crowd, He limits the number of witnesses, emphasizing the personal and intimate nature of the impending divine intervention.

Key Themes

  • Jesus's Inner Circle: The inclusion of Peter, James, and John is significant. These three disciples consistently formed an inner circle, chosen by Jesus to witness His most extraordinary moments, such as the Transfiguration and His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. Their presence here underscores the profound importance of the miracle about to unfold.
  • Privacy of Miracles: Jesus often chose to perform His miracles in a more private setting, or instructed those He healed not to tell everyone immediately. This selective approach minimized sensationalism and focused on the genuine faith involved, preventing His work from being reduced to mere spectacle.
  • Credible Witnesses: By allowing the girl's parents and His three most trusted disciples to be present, Jesus ensured that there were undeniable, credible witnesses to the supernatural event of resurrection. This testifies to the truth and power of His claims.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "suffered no man to go in" uses an older sense of the word "suffered," meaning "permitted" or "allowed." It conveys that Jesus deliberately and actively restricted access to the room, ensuring only His chosen few and the immediate family were present for the miracle. There isn't a complex Greek term here, but understanding the KJV's archaic usage is key to its meaning.

Practical Application

Luke 8:51 reminds us that God often works in intimate, quiet spaces, sometimes away from the clamor of the world. It teaches us the importance of faith and trust, even when circumstances seem dire, as Jairus was instructed to believe despite his daughter's death. Just as Jesus chose a select few for this profound experience, He may invite us into deeper, more personal encounters with His power and presence when we seek Him in sincerity and faith. This passage reinforces the reality of Jesus's power over death, offering hope in seemingly hopeless situations, a truth echoed in John 11:25 where He declares Himself the "resurrection, and the life."

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 2 Kings 4:4 (3 votes)

    And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full.

  • 2 Kings 4:6 (3 votes)

    And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, [There is] not a vessel more. And the oil stayed.

  • Isaiah 42:2 (3 votes)

    He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.

  • Luke 9:28 (3 votes)

    ¶ And it came to pass about an eight days after these sayings, he took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray.

  • 1 Kings 17:19 (3 votes)

    And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into a loft, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.

  • 1 Kings 17:23 (3 votes)

    And Elijah took the child, and brought him down out of the chamber into the house, and delivered him unto his mother: and Elijah said, See, thy son liveth.

  • Mark 14:33 (3 votes)

    And he taketh with him Peter and James and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy;