Luke 8:56

KJV

And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} her {G846} parents {G1118} were astonished {G1839}: but {G1161} he charged {G3853} them {G846} that they should tell {G2036} no man {G3367} what was done {G1096}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Her parents were astounded, but he instructed them to tell no one what had happened.

Berean Standard Bible

Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

American Standard Version

And her parents were amazed: but he charged them to tell no man what had been done.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:56 records the immediate aftermath of Jesus's miraculous raising of Jairus's daughter, highlighting the profound astonishment of the parents and Jesus's subsequent command for silence. This powerful moment underscores Jesus's divine authority over life and death while simultaneously revealing His strategic approach to His public ministry, aiming to manage perceptions and timing regarding His messianic identity.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the concluding statement to one of Jesus's most dramatic miracles: the resurrection of Jairus's twelve-year-old daughter. The narrative begins with Jairus, a synagogue ruler, desperately pleading with Jesus to heal his dying child ([Luke 8:40](/luke/8-40 "Luke 8:40 - Jairus Pleads with Jesus")). En route, an interlude occurs where Jesus heals a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years, simply by her touching the fringe of His garment ([Luke 8:43-48](/luke/8-43-48 "Luke 8:43-48 - The Healing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage")). Immediately after this, news arrives that Jairus's daughter has died, prompting Jesus to offer a profound word of comfort and instruction: "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well" ([Luke 8:50](/luke/8-50 "Luke 8:50 - Jesus Comforts Jairus")). Upon entering the house, Jesus dismisses the professional mourners, declaring that the girl is not dead but sleeping, a euphemism for death that emphasizes His power to awaken her ([Luke 8:52](/luke/8-52 "Luke 8:52 - Jesus Declares the Girl is Sleeping")). He then takes her hand and commands her to "Arise!" ([Luke 8:54](/luke/8-54 "Luke 8:54 - Jesus Raises Jairus's Daughter")), instantly restoring her to life and health, culminating in the parents' overwhelming astonishment and Jesus's directive in [Luke 8:56](/luke/8-56 "Luke 8:56 - Jesus Commands Silence").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, death was a profound and often public event, accompanied by specific mourning rituals, including the hiring of professional mourners and flute players, as noted in [Matthew 9:23](/matthew/9-23 "Matthew 9:23 - Jesus Enters Jairus's House"). The age of twelve for a girl marked the threshold of womanhood, making her death particularly tragic and significant for the family. The concept of resurrection, while present in Jewish eschatological hope (e.g., [Daniel 12:2](/daniel/12-2 "Daniel 12:2 - Resurrection of the Dead")), was not expected as a common occurrence in daily life, especially not at the command of a living person. Therefore, witnessing such a miracle would have been utterly astounding and culturally unprecedented, challenging their understanding of life, death, and divine power. Jesus's command for silence, often referred to as the "Messianic Secret," was a strategic move in His ministry, likely intended to prevent premature opposition from religious authorities, avoid being misunderstood as a political revolutionary, and manage the crowds' expectations, ensuring that His true identity as the suffering Messiah was properly understood in due time.
* **Key Themes:** This miracle powerfully showcases several core themes within Luke's Gospel and Jesus's ministry. Foremost is Jesus's **divine authority over death**, a prerogative traditionally reserved for God alone, demonstrating His unique power as the Son of God. This act foreshadows His own resurrection and His ultimate triumph over the grave, a central tenet of Christian faith ([1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20-22 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ's Resurrection as Firstfruits")). The parents' **astonishment and awe** highlight the natural human reaction to encountering the miraculous and the divine, reflecting a profound sense of wonder and perhaps even fear. Finally, the recurring theme of the **Messianic Secret** is prominent here. Jesus frequently commanded silence after miracles or revelations of His identity ([Mark 1:44](/mark/1-44 "Mark 1:44 - Jesus Heals a Leper and Commands Silence"), [Mark 8:30](/mark/8-30 "Mark 8:30 - Peter's Confession and Jesus's Command")). This was not to deny His power but to control the narrative, prevent superficial acclaim based solely on sensational acts, and ensure that His mission, particularly His path to the cross, was not derailed by popular misunderstanding or premature political uprising.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **astonished (Greek, _exístēmi'_):** From *ek* (out of) and *histēmi* (to stand), meaning "to put (stand) out of wits," or "to become astounded, insane." This word conveys a profound state of being utterly overwhelmed, beyond normal comprehension or expectation. It's not mere surprise but a complete dislodging of one's mental and emotional equilibrium due to an extraordinary event, perfectly capturing the parents' reaction to their daughter's resurrection.
* **charged (Greek, _parangéllō'_):** From *para* (alongside) and the base of *angelos* (messenger), meaning "to transmit a message," or by implication, "to enjoin." This term signifies a strict command, a solemn injunction, or a firm instruction. It implies authority and the expectation of obedience, indicating that Jesus's directive for silence was not a suggestion but a serious and binding order.
* **what was done (Greek, _gínomai'_):** A versatile verb meaning "to cause to be," "to become," or "to come into being." In this context, it refers to "what had happened" or "what had come to pass," specifically the miraculous restoration of the girl's life. The broadness of the term allows it to encompass the entire, extraordinary event that had just transpired, emphasizing the reality and impact of the miracle.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And her parents were astonished:"** This clause captures the immediate and overwhelming emotional response of Jairus and his wife. Their astonishment (Greek *exístēmi*) signifies a state of profound shock and wonder, being utterly "out of their minds" with amazement. Having just witnessed their deceased daughter brought back to life by Jesus's command, their reaction is a natural and powerful human response to such an unprecedented display of divine power over death.
* **"but he charged them"** This introduces a contrast (indicated by "but") and Jesus's authoritative action. Despite the parents' understandable emotional state, Jesus immediately takes control, issuing a firm command. The word "charged" (Greek *parangéllō*) denotes a strict, authoritative injunction, highlighting Jesus's deliberate intention behind His subsequent instruction.
* **"that they should tell no man"** This is the substance of Jesus's command for silence. The phrase "no man" (Greek *mēdeís*) emphasizes the absolute nature of the prohibition – they were to tell absolutely no one. This directive is a classic instance of the "Messianic Secret," where Jesus strategically controls the dissemination of information about His miracles and identity, often to manage public perception and timing.
* **"what was done."** This refers to the entire miraculous event that had just occurred – the girl's resurrection. Jesus's command for silence pertains specifically to the extraordinary act of power He had just performed, underscoring its profound significance and His desire to keep its full implications under wraps for the time being.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 8:56 employs several literary devices to enhance its meaning and impact. **Irony** is evident in Jesus's command for silence following such a public and astounding miracle; the very act designed to reveal His divine power is immediately followed by a directive to conceal it. This creates a tension between revelation and concealment, a hallmark of the Messianic Secret motif. **Foreshadowing** is also present, as Jesus's authority over death in this instance powerfully anticipates His own resurrection, which would ultimately validate His messianic claims and demonstrate His ultimate victory over the grave. Furthermore, the narrative uses **contrast** to highlight the profound nature of the event: the parents' overwhelming, almost disorienting, astonishment stands in stark contrast to Jesus's calm, authoritative, and strategic command. This juxtaposition emphasizes both the human reaction to the divine and the divine control over the unfolding of redemptive history.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 8:56 is deeply significant as it underscores Jesus's absolute sovereignty over life and death, a power that belongs uniquely to God. This miracle is not merely a display of supernatural ability but a profound theological statement about Jesus's divine nature and His ultimate mission to conquer death itself. The command for silence, while seemingly counterintuitive, reveals Jesus's strategic wisdom in managing the unfolding of His messianic identity, preventing premature political uprisings or a superficial understanding of His kingdom based solely on sensational miracles. It points to a deeper, spiritual understanding of His work, culminating in His sacrificial death and glorious resurrection, which would truly usher in the new covenant.

* [Mark 5:43](/mark/5-43 "Mark 5:43 - Jesus Commands Silence After Raising Jairus's Daughter") - A parallel account in Mark's Gospel also records Jesus's command for silence after raising Jairus's daughter, reinforcing the consistency of this motif across the Synoptics.
* [Matthew 17:9](/matthew/17-9 "Matthew 17:9 - Jesus Commands Silence After the Transfiguration") - After the Transfiguration, Jesus similarly charges His disciples to "tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead," highlighting His control over the timing of revelation concerning His identity.
* [John 11:43-44](/john/11-43-44 "John 11:43-44 - Jesus Raises Lazarus from the Dead") - Jesus's raising of Lazarus, another profound victory over death, further demonstrates His divine authority and foreshadows His own resurrection, though without the same command for secrecy, as His ministry was nearing its culmination.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The astonishment of Jairus and his wife serves as a powerful reminder of the awe and wonder that should accompany our encounters with God's power. In a world that often seeks to rationalize or diminish the miraculous, this verse invites us to embrace a posture of profound amazement when we witness God's intervention, whether in grand, public displays or in the quiet, personal transformations of our lives. Furthermore, Jesus's command for silence offers a vital lesson in divine timing and purpose. It teaches us that God's work often unfolds according to His perfect plan, not always aligned with our human desires for immediate recognition or widespread fanfare. Sometimes, the most profound work of God is best nurtured in quiet faith, allowing its roots to deepen before its full fruit is revealed. This calls us to discern when to speak and when to trust God's process, ensuring that our witness is not driven by sensationalism but by a genuine understanding of His will and mission.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the astonishment of Jairus and his wife resonate with your own experiences of God's power or intervention in your life?**
* **In what areas of your life might God be working in a "hidden" or quiet way, and how can you trust His timing rather than seek immediate public recognition?**
* **When is it appropriate to proclaim God's work loudly, and when might it be more aligned with His will to exercise discretion or patience?**
* **How does Jesus's authority over death in this passage strengthen your faith in His power over seemingly impossible situations in your own life?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus command the parents to tell no one about the miracle?**

Answer: Jesus's command for silence, often referred to as the "Messianic Secret," was a strategic element of His ministry. There are several theological and practical reasons for this. Firstly, Jesus sought to prevent misunderstanding of His messianic identity; many people expected a political revolutionary who would overthrow Roman rule, and sensational miracles could easily fuel such expectations, leading to premature uprisings or opposition that would hinder His true mission of suffering and atonement ([Mark 8:31-33](/mark/8-31-33 "Mark 8:31-33 - Jesus Predicts His Death")). Secondly, He aimed to control the narrative and prevent superficial excitement based solely on miracles, desiring instead a deeper, faith-based understanding of His spiritual kingdom ([John 6:26-27](/john/6-26-27 "John 6:26-27 - Jesus Addresses the Crowd's Motives")). Thirdly, widespread proclamation of such a powerful miracle could have intensified the opposition from religious authorities too early, before His appointed time for the cross. Finally, Jesus often focused on cultivating genuine faith in individuals rather than drawing crowds through mere spectacle, allowing the impact of His work to unfold organically and spiritually.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 8:56, with its depiction of Jesus's authority over death and His strategic command for silence, finds its profound Christ-centered fulfillment in the greater narrative of redemption. The raising of Jairus's daughter is a powerful **foretaste** of Jesus's ultimate victory over death through His own resurrection. This miracle foreshadows the truth that Jesus is indeed the "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), the one who holds the keys of death and Hades ([Revelation 1:18](/revelation/1-18 "Revelation 1:18 - Jesus Holds the Keys of Death and Hades")). While He commanded silence here, this earthly miracle points to the far greater spiritual resurrection He offers to all who believe, a new life freed from the power of sin and death ([Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - New Life in Christ")). The temporary secrecy surrounding this miracle ultimately gives way to the universal proclamation of the Gospel, where the resurrected Christ commissions His followers to "go and make disciples of all nations" ([Matthew 28:19](/matthew/28-19 "Matthew 28:19 - The Great Commission")), openly declaring His triumph over the grave and His reign as Lord. Thus, the astonishment of the parents becomes a microcosm of the awe inspired by Christ's ultimate victory, inviting all humanity to marvel at the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and offers eternal life ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Matthew 8:4

And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Matthew 9:30

And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See [that] no man know [it].

Luke 5:14

And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Mark 5:42

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was [of the age] of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Mark 5:43

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.