Luke 9:43

KJV

¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} they were {G1605} all {G3956} amazed {G1605} at {G1909} the mighty power {G3168} of God {G2316}. But {G1161} while they wondered {G2296} every one {G3956} at {G1909} all things {G3956} which {G3739} Jesus {G2424} did {G4160}, he said {G2036} unto {G4314} his {G846} disciples {G3101},

Complete Jewish Bible

All were struck with amazement at the greatness of God. While they were all marvelling at everything Yeshua was doing, he said to his talmidim,

Berean Standard Bible

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God. While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

American Standard Version

And they were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marvelling at all the things which he did, he said unto his disciples,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 9:43 captures the profound impact of Jesus' recent miracle on the astonished crowd, highlighting their universal amazement at the divine power displayed through Him. This moment of widespread wonder serves as a crucial pivot point, as Jesus immediately turns from the public spectacle to deliver a significant, private teaching to His disciples, setting the stage for deeper revelations about His mission and impending suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' powerful exorcism and healing of a demon-possessed boy, a miracle that occurred after His disciples had failed to cast out the demon ([Luke 9:37-42](/luke/9-37-42 "Luke 9:37-42 - Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy")). This event is itself situated shortly after the Transfiguration ([Luke 9:28-36](/luke/9-28-36 "Luke 9:28-36 - The Transfiguration of Jesus")), where Jesus' divine glory was momentarily unveiled to Peter, James, and John. The contrast between the disciples' impotence and Jesus' effortless authority underscores His unique divine identity and power. The crowd's amazement in Luke 9:43 is a direct response to this recent, overwhelming demonstration of divine power, and it sets up the subsequent, more challenging teaching about the Son of Man's suffering and betrayal ([Luke 9:44-45](/luke/9-44-45 "Luke 9:44-45 - Jesus Again Foretells His Death")).

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Jesus' ministry took place within a Jewish society deeply steeped in the expectation of a Messiah. However, popular understanding often envisioned a political or military deliverer who would overthrow Roman rule and restore Israel's earthly kingdom. Miracles, especially exorcisms and healings, were widely seen as signs of divine favor and prophetic authentication, aligning with the expected powerful works of the Messiah. The crowds' amazement was a natural, culturally conditioned response to such extraordinary displays of power, which they would have interpreted as evidence of God's direct intervention. This public reaction provided a backdrop against which Jesus could then introduce a radically different understanding of His messianic role—one that involved suffering and death, challenging deeply held cultural assumptions about power and glory.

* **Key Themes:** Luke 9:43 contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel. Firstly, it powerfully reinforces the theme of **Jesus' Divine Authority and Power**, showcasing Him as the one through whom "the mighty power of God" is manifested. This aligns with Luke's consistent portrayal of Jesus as the Son of God, endowed with unparalleled authority over sickness, demons, and even death, as seen in His various miracles throughout [Luke's Gospel](/luke "The Gospel According to Luke"). Secondly, it highlights the **Contrast Between Public Admiration and Private Discipleship**. While the crowds are amazed by the spectacle, Jesus immediately shifts to prepare His inner circle for a deeper, and often difficult, understanding of His mission. This foreshadows the theme of the **Suffering Messiah**, as Jesus' subsequent teaching in [Luke 9:44](/luke/9-44 "Luke 9:44 - Jesus Foretells His Death") will reveal that His path to glory involves suffering and rejection, a concept the disciples struggle to grasp, as evidenced in [Luke 18:31-34](/luke/18-31-34 "Luke 18:31-34 - Jesus Again Foretells His Death").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **amazed (Greek, _ekplḗssō_):** From the Strong's definition, this word means "to strike with astonishment." It conveys a sense of being utterly overwhelmed, as if struck by a powerful force. The crowd's reaction was not mere surprise but a profound, almost physical, impact of awe and wonder at the magnitude of what they witnessed.
* **mighty power (Greek, _megaleiótēs_):** This term signifies "superbness, i.e., glory or splendor; magnificence, majesty." It's not just raw strength, but power that is majestic, awe-inspiring, and indicative of divine grandeur. It emphasizes that Jesus' actions were not just impressive human feats but manifestations of God's own glorious and majestic power.
* **wondered (Greek, _thaumázō_):** This word means "to wonder; by implication, to admire." While similar to "amazed," it suggests a sustained state of astonished admiration and contemplation. The crowd wasn't just momentarily shocked but continued to marvel and ponder "at all things which Jesus did," indicating a deep impression left by the entirety of His ministry, not just the recent miracle.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God."**: This opening clause describes the immediate and universal reaction of the crowd. The "all" emphasizes the pervasive nature of their astonishment. Their amazement is specifically directed "at the mighty power of God," indicating that they perceived Jesus' actions as a direct manifestation of divine, majestic authority, not merely human skill. This highlights the undeniable, supernatural quality of Jesus' ministry.
* **"But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did,"**: The conjunction "But" signals a shift, even as the crowd's wonder continues. The phrase "every one at all things which Jesus did" broadens their admiration beyond the single recent miracle to encompass the entirety of Jesus' miraculous works. This sustained "wondering" suggests a deep impression and ongoing contemplation of Jesus' extraordinary deeds, setting the stage for the narrative pivot.
* **"he said unto his disciples,"**: This final clause marks the crucial transition in the narrative. Despite the widespread public amazement and continued wonder, Jesus deliberately turns away from the crowd's adulation to address His inner circle, the disciples. This immediate shift from public spectacle to private instruction underscores Jesus' purpose: His mission is not merely to impress crowds with power but to prepare His followers for the deeper, often challenging, realities of His kingdom and His true messianic identity.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 9:43 effectively employs several **literary devices**. The most prominent is **Contrast**, as the universal amazement and wonder of the crowd are immediately juxtaposed with Jesus' private instruction to His disciples. This highlights the difference between superficial admiration of power and the deeper, often difficult, call to discipleship. There is also a strong element of **Foreshadowing**, as the verse sets up Jesus' subsequent revelation of His impending suffering and death ([Luke 9:44](/luke/9-44 "Luke 9:44 - Jesus Foretells His Death")), which stands in stark contrast to the "mighty power" the crowd just witnessed. The phrase "all amazed" and "every one" can be seen as **Hyperbole**, emphasizing the overwhelming and widespread nature of the crowd's reaction, even if not every single person was literally struck with the same intensity. Finally, the verse functions as a **Narrative Transition**, moving the focus from public demonstration and acclamation to a more intimate, crucial teaching moment within Jesus' inner circle, signaling a shift in the disciples' training.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 9:43 serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of God's power revealed in Jesus and the distinct call of discipleship. The crowd's amazement at "the mighty power of God" unequivocally affirms Jesus' divine authority and the inbreaking of the Kingdom of God through His ministry. However, Jesus' immediate pivot to His disciples reveals that true understanding of His mission transcends mere appreciation of miracles. It implies a deeper, often counter-intuitive, path of following Him, one that will involve suffering and self-denial, a truth that the disciples themselves struggled to comprehend. This verse underscores that while God's power is manifest, His ultimate plan for redemption involves a suffering Messiah, a concept that requires more than just wonder—it demands faith, commitment, and a willingness to embrace the cross.

* [Luke 9:22](/luke/9-22 "Luke 9:22 - Jesus Foretells His Death")
* [Luke 9:23](/luke/9-23 "Luke 9:23 - The Cost of Discipleship")
* [Luke 18:34](/luke/18-34 "Luke 18:34 - Disciples' Lack of Understanding")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 9:43 presents us with a profound challenge: how do we respond to the revelation of God's power? Like the crowd, it is natural and right to be amazed and wonder at God's magnificent works, whether in creation, in personal provision, or in the transformative power of the Gospel. However, Jesus' immediate turn to His disciples reminds us that God calls us beyond mere admiration to committed, understanding discipleship. It's not enough to be impressed by what God *does*; we are called to listen to what He *says* and to align our lives with His will, even when His path seems contrary to our expectations of glory and power. This verse urges us to move from being mere spectators of God's mighty deeds to active participants in His kingdom, willing to embrace the full, often challenging, implications of following Christ, including the call to self-denial and cross-bearing. Our wonder should lead to worship, and our worship to obedient action, seeking to understand the deeper truths of God's redemptive plan.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life are you amazed by God's "mighty power," and how does that amazement translate into deeper faith or action?**
* **Do you sometimes find yourself lingering in "wonder" at God's works without moving to a deeper understanding or commitment to His teachings?**
* **What "things Jesus did" (and taught) might challenge your expectations of what it means to follow Him today?**
* **How can you cultivate a heart that moves beyond mere admiration to a more profound, obedient discipleship, even when the path is difficult?**

### FAQ

**Why were the disciples unable to heal the boy, but Jesus could?**

Answer:
The immediate context in [Luke 9:37-42](/luke/9-37-42 "Luke 9:37-42 - Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy") shows the disciples' failure to cast out the demon, leading Jesus to lament their "faithless and twisted generation." Jesus' subsequent healing of the boy demonstrates His unique, inherent divine authority and power, which transcends that given to His disciples. While Jesus had previously empowered them to cast out demons ([Luke 9:1](/luke/9-1 "Luke 9:1 - Jesus Sends Out the Twelve")), this particular instance highlighted a spiritual deficiency or lack of faith on their part, which Jesus later addressed (though not explicitly detailed in Luke, Matthew and Mark's accounts mention the need for prayer and fasting for such cases). Jesus' effortless command underscored His identity as the Son of God, not just a prophet or healer, and the source of all true power.

**What is the significance of Jesus turning from the crowd to His disciples immediately after such a powerful miracle?**

Answer:
This immediate pivot is highly significant. It signals that while public miracles serve to validate Jesus' identity and the inbreaking of God's kingdom, His primary focus is on preparing His inner circle for the deeper, often counter-intuitive, realities of His mission. The crowd's amazement was a natural human response to power, but Jesus knew His disciples needed to grasp the full scope of His messianic role, which included suffering and death, not just displays of glory. This transition from public spectacle to private instruction underscores the call to move beyond mere admiration to committed, understanding discipleship, preparing them for the challenging truths that lay ahead, such as His impending passion foretold in [Luke 9:44](/luke/9-44 "Luke 9:44 - Jesus Foretells His Death").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 9:43, with its depiction of universal amazement at the "mighty power of God" displayed by Jesus, points profoundly to Christ's divine nature and His ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The "magnificence" or "majesty" (Greek: _megaleiótēs_) of God's power seen in Jesus' miracles foreshadows the full revelation of His glory as the Son of God, who is "the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")). Yet, the immediate shift from public acclamation to private instruction about His impending suffering reveals the counter-cultural nature of Christ's kingdom. The One who wields such immense power is also the Suffering Servant of [Isaiah 53](/isaiah/53 "Isaiah 53 - The Suffering Servant"), who would humble Himself, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:5-8](/philippians/2-5-8 "Philippians 2:5-8 - Christ's Humiliation")). This verse encapsulates the paradox of Christ: His divine power is undeniable, but it is ultimately channeled through self-sacrificial love, culminating in His atoning death and resurrection, which alone brings true salvation and the full manifestation of God's glorious power.

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

Luke 9:43

¶ And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples,

Luke 9:45

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

Acts 3:10

And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.

Acts 3:13

The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let [him] go.

Mark 9:30

¶ And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know [it].

Mark 9:32

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Matthew 17:22

¶ And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: