Luke 24:19

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

And {G2532} he said {G2036} unto them {G846}, What things {G4169}? And {G1161} they said {G2036} unto him {G846}, Concerning {G4012} Jesus {G2424} of Nazareth {G3480}, which {G3739} was {G1096} a prophet {G4396} mighty {G1415} in {G1722}{G435} deed {G2041} and {G2532} word {G3056} before {G1726} God {G2316} and {G2532} all {G3956} the people {G2992}:

“What things?” he asked them. They said to him, “The things about Yeshua from Natzeret. He was a prophet and proved it by the things he did and said before God and all the people.

“What things?” He asked. “The events involving Jesus of Nazareth,” they answered. “This man was a prophet, powerful in speech and action before God and all the people.

And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people:

Commentary

This verse is part of the compelling narrative of Jesus' appearance to two disciples on the road to Emmaus after His resurrection. The disciples, dejected and confused, are discussing the events of the past few days when the unrecognized Jesus joins them. He asks them what they are talking about, prompting this response which reveals their understanding of Jesus *before* they fully grasp the resurrection.

Key Themes

  • Jesus as a Prophet: The disciples identify Jesus primarily as a prophet, a messenger from God, which was a common perception among many Jews during His ministry (e.g., Matthew 21:11).
  • Mighty in Deed and Word: This phrase powerfully summarizes Jesus' earthly ministry. His "deeds" refer to His miracles, healings, and powerful actions, while His "word" refers to His authoritative teaching and preaching. The disciples recognized the immense impact of both aspects of His work.
  • Public Recognition: The phrase "before God and all the people" highlights that Jesus' ministry was not hidden. His authority and power were evident and acknowledged publicly, even by those who did not fully believe He was the Messiah or the Son of God.
  • Limited Understanding: Despite recognizing Jesus' prophetic power, the disciples' description reveals their limited understanding at this point. They saw Him as a great figure who was tragically killed, not yet fully grasping the significance of His resurrection.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase translated "mighty in deed and word" (δυνατὸς ἐν ἔργῳ καὶ λόγῳ - dynatos en ergō kai logō) is a concise and potent description. Dynatos means powerful or mighty, while ergō refers to work or deed, and logō refers to word or speech. This pairing emphasizes that Jesus' authority and power were demonstrated comprehensively through both His actions and His teachings. This dual demonstration marked Him out as more than just an ordinary teacher or miracle worker; it pointed to His unique relationship with God. The same phrase is used of Moses in Acts 7:22, drawing a parallel but highlighting Jesus' ultimate fulfillment.

Significance and Application

Luke 24:19 serves as a poignant snapshot of how Jesus was viewed by many during His earthly life. He was undeniably a figure of immense authority and power, whose words carried weight and whose actions were miraculous. For us today, this verse reminds us of the solid foundation of Jesus' public ministry – His teachings were backed by divine power, and His power was explained by His divine words. While the disciples here had not yet fully grasped the resurrection, their description of Jesus as "mighty in deed and word" remains a true and essential part of understanding who He is and what He accomplished as the Word made flesh. It encourages us to look at the entirety of His life and ministry as evidence of His unique identity.

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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

  • Matthew 21:11 (9 votes)

    And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

  • John 4:19 (3 votes)

    The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.

  • Luke 7:16 (3 votes)

    And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

  • Acts 2:22 (3 votes)

    Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:

  • John 6:14 (3 votes)

    Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.

  • John 3:2 (3 votes)

    The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

  • Acts 7:22 (3 votes)

    And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds.