Luke 9:6

KJV

And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G1161} they departed {G1831}, and went {G1330} through {G2596} the towns {G2968}, preaching the gospel {G2097}, and {G2532} healing {G2323} every where {G3837}.

Complete Jewish Bible

They set out and went through village after village, healing and announcing the Good News everywhere.

Berean Standard Bible

So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

American Standard Version

And they departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 9:6 succinctly describes the immediate and comprehensive response of the twelve apostles to Jesus' commissioning. Having been endowed with divine power and authority, they promptly embarked on their mission, traversing various towns to proclaim the good news of God's Kingdom and to minister to physical ailments through healing, thereby demonstrating the dual nature of their divinely empowered ministry: word and deed.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse immediately follows Jesus' pivotal commissioning of the twelve disciples in [Luke 9:1-5](/luke/9-1-5 "Luke 9:1-5 - Jesus Commissions the Twelve"). In this preceding passage, Jesus grants them "power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases" and provides specific instructions regarding their conduct and reliance on divine provision during their mission. He explicitly forbids them from taking money, extra clothing, or food, emphasizing a radical dependence on God and the hospitality of those who would receive their message. Their departure and actions in [Luke 9:6](/luke/9-6 "Luke 9:6 - The Apostles' Immediate Obedience") thus serve as the direct fulfillment and immediate obedience to this divine mandate, highlighting the urgency, simplicity, and focused nature of their task. The subsequent verses in [Luke 9](/luke/9 "Luke 9 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand and Transfigures") continue to detail Jesus' ministry, including the feeding of the five thousand and Peter's confession, further establishing the apostles' role in extending His work.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Galilee and Judea, itinerant teachers and healers were not uncommon, but the authority and message of Jesus' disciples set them apart. Their reliance on hospitality, as instructed by Jesus, was a common practice for travelers and religious figures in that culture, where receiving guests was a deeply ingrained social and religious obligation. The "towns" (Greek: _kōmē_) they visited were typically smaller, rural settlements, distinct from larger cities, suggesting a grassroots, pervasive evangelistic effort. The "gospel" they preached was revolutionary in its claims about the arrival of God's Kingdom through Jesus, challenging established religious norms and political expectations. Healing, in this context, was often seen as a sign of divine favor and authority, validating the messenger's claims and demonstrating the power of the God they proclaimed, resonating deeply with a populace often afflicted by various diseases and lacking modern medical care.
* **Key Themes:** [Luke 9:6](/luke/9-6 "Luke 9:6 - The Apostles' Ministry") powerfully encapsulates several key themes prevalent throughout Luke's Gospel and the broader New Testament. Foremost among these is **Active Obedience and Mission**, as the apostles' prompt departure and widespread activity underscore their immediate response to Jesus' command. This highlights the expansive nature of the Kingdom of God, which is not confined to one location but is to be proclaimed "every where." Another crucial theme is the **Proclamation of the Gospel**, which is central to their mission. This "good news" refers to the arrival of God's redemptive reign through Jesus Christ, a message of salvation and transformation that forms the core of Christian witness, as seen in [Romans 1:16](/romans/1-16 "Romans 1:16 - The Power of the Gospel"). Finally, the theme of **Divine Power and Validation** is evident in the accompanying acts of "healing every where." These miracles were not merely acts of compassion but served as tangible signs confirming the truth of their message and the divine authority by which they operated, mirroring Jesus' own ministry of word and deed (e.g., [Luke 4:40](/luke/4-40 "Luke 4:40 - Jesus Heals Many")). This dual ministry of preaching and demonstrating God's power is a hallmark of authentic Kingdom work.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **departed (Greek, _exérchomai'_):** From G1831, meaning "to issue (literally or figuratively):--come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad." This word emphasizes the apostles' immediate and decisive action of leaving their current location to begin their mission. It conveys a sense of purposeful movement and initiation of their assigned task.
* **preaching the gospel (Greek, _euangelízō'_):** From G2097, meaning "to announce good news ('evangelize') especially the gospel:--declare, bring (declare, show) glad (good) tidings, preach (the gospel)." This term highlights the primary content of their message: the "good news" concerning God's redemptive plan through Jesus Christ. It signifies a public, authoritative proclamation of glad tidings, forming the core of their evangelistic endeavor.
* **healing (Greek, _therapeúō'_):** From G2323, meaning "to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease):--cure, heal, worship." In this context, it specifically refers to the miraculous restoration of health. This word underscores the compassionate and powerful aspect of their ministry, demonstrating divine power and validating their message through tangible acts of mercy and restoration.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And they departed, and went through the towns,"**: This clause describes the apostles' immediate and widespread obedience to Jesus' commission. "Departed" signifies their prompt action, while "went through the towns" indicates the expansive scope of their mission, reaching various communities rather than remaining in one place. This highlights the active and itinerant nature of their ministry.
* **"preaching the gospel,"**: This phrase identifies the core message and primary purpose of their journey. "Preaching the gospel" means proclaiming the "good news" of God's Kingdom, the arrival of salvation through Jesus Christ, and the call to repentance and faith. This was an oral proclamation, central to their evangelistic task.
* **"and healing every where."**: This final clause describes the accompanying, validating acts of power. The apostles were not only proclaiming the message but also demonstrating its truth through miraculous healings. "Every where" emphasizes the pervasive nature of these signs, confirming their divine authority and the presence of God's power in their ministry across all the places they visited.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several literary devices to convey its meaning and impact. **Parallelism** is evident in the pairing of "preaching the gospel" and "healing every where," showcasing the dual nature of their ministry: the proclamation of the word and the demonstration of power through deeds. This structure emphasizes that the message and the miracles were inextricably linked, each validating the other. The use of **action verbs** such as "departed," "went," "preaching," and "healing" creates a dynamic and urgent tone, conveying the apostles' immediate and active response to Jesus' command. Furthermore, the phrase "every where" functions as a form of **hyperbole** or **synecdoche**, signifying a comprehensive and pervasive reach of their ministry, implying that their efforts covered a vast area and touched numerous lives, rather than literally every single spot on the map. This emphasizes the widespread impact and success of their mission.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 9:6 stands as a foundational text for understanding the nature of Christian ministry, echoing the pattern established by Jesus Himself. It reveals that authentic ministry is characterized by both the verbal proclamation of the "good news" and compassionate action that demonstrates God's power and love. The apostles' immediate obedience and their dual focus on preaching and healing underscore the holistic nature of the Kingdom of God, which addresses both spiritual and physical needs. This verse teaches that the message of salvation is not merely intellectual assent but is often accompanied by tangible expressions of divine power and care, validating the truth of the gospel and inviting people into a transformed life.

* [Matthew 10:7-8](/matthew/10-7-8 "Matthew 10:7-8 - Jesus' Instructions to the Twelve")
* [Acts 8:6-7](/acts/8-6-7 "Acts 8:6-7 - Philip's Ministry in Samaria")
* [Mark 16:20](/mark/16-20 "Mark 16:20 - The Disciples Preach Everywhere")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 9:6 serves as a timeless blueprint for believers today, calling us to active obedience and a holistic engagement with the world. Just as the apostles immediately responded to Jesus' call, we too are challenged to prompt and willing participation in God's mission, not delaying when the Spirit prompts. The core of our mission remains "preaching the gospel," which involves sharing the transformative truth of Jesus Christ through our words, testimonies, and lives. This is not limited to formal evangelism but extends to every interaction where we can embody and articulate the hope we have. Furthermore, the "healing every where" component reminds us that our faith should lead to tangible acts of compassion and service. While miraculous physical healings may not be universally distributed, the principle of ministering to human suffering, whether physical, emotional, or social, remains vital. We are called to be agents of God's love and power in our communities, demonstrating the reality of His Kingdom through practical care, justice, and mercy, always pointing to Christ as the ultimate source of healing and hope. Our lives, like those of the apostles, should be a seamless blend of proclaiming the word and demonstrating its truth through compassionate action.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways am I actively obeying Jesus' call to mission in my daily life?**
* **How can I more effectively "preach the gospel" through both my words and my lifestyle?**
* **What opportunities do I have to engage in "healing" (i.e., compassionate service or addressing needs) in my community, demonstrating God's love and power?**

### FAQ
**What does "preaching the gospel" specifically mean in this context?**

Answer: In this context, "preaching the gospel" (Greek: _euangelízō_) means proclaiming the "good news" concerning the arrival and nature of God's Kingdom through Jesus Christ. It encompasses the message of repentance, the forgiveness of sins, the power of God's rule, and the offer of salvation through faith in Jesus. It was a declaration that God's long-awaited plan of redemption was being fulfilled through Jesus' life, ministry, death, and resurrection. This message was central to Jesus' own ministry (e.g., [Luke 4:43](/luke/4-43 "Luke 4:43 - Jesus Preaches the Kingdom of God")) and became the core of the apostles' commission.

**Were the apostles able to heal everyone they encountered?**

Answer: The phrase "healing every where" (Greek: _pantachoû_) indicates that their healing ministry was widespread and pervasive, occurring in all the places they went. While it doesn't necessarily mean they healed every single individual they encountered without exception, it strongly suggests that their ability to heal was consistently manifested wherever they proclaimed the gospel. This widespread demonstration of power served as undeniable evidence of God's presence and validation of their message, as seen in other accounts of the apostles' ministry (e.g., [Acts 5:16](/acts/5-16 "Acts 5:16 - Many Healed by the Apostles")).

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 9:6, though describing the ministry of the apostles, profoundly points to Christ as the ultimate source and model of their mission. Their ability to "preach the gospel" and perform "healing every where" was not inherent to them but was a direct outflow of the "power and authority" Jesus had specifically granted them (as stated in [Luke 9:1](/luke/9-1 "Luke 9:1 - Jesus Gives Power to the Twelve")). Jesus Himself was the supreme Evangelist, proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom (e.g., [Luke 4:18-19](/luke/4-18-19 "Luke 4:18-19 - Jesus' Nazareth Sermon")) and demonstrating God's power through countless acts of healing (e.g., [Luke 6:17-19](/luke/6-17-19 "Luke 6:17-19 - Jesus Heals a Great Multitude")). The apostles' ministry, therefore, was a continuation and extension of Christ's own work, foreshadowing the global mission of the church empowered by the resurrected Christ through the Holy Spirit. Their "departing" and "going through the towns" prefigures the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations ([Matthew 28:19-20](/matthew/28-19-20 "Matthew 28:19-20 - The Great Commission")), where believers are sent out in Christ's authority to proclaim His finished work on the cross and the new life He offers, accompanied by signs and wonders that confirm the word ([Mark 16:20](/mark/16-20 "Mark 16:20 - The Disciples Preach Everywhere")). Thus, Luke 9:6 is a testament to the ongoing, Christ-empowered mission to bring the holistic salvation of God's Kingdom to every corner of the earth.

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

Mark 16:20

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with [them], and confirming the word with signs following. Amen.

Acts 4:30

By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Mark 6:12

And they went out, and preached that men should repent.

Mark 6:13

And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed [them].

Acts 5:15

Insomuch that they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid [them] on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them.

Luke 9:1

¶ Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Luke 9:2

And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.