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Luke Chapter 5

New Testament Gospel 39 Verses

What is Luke 5 about?

The most detailed Gospel — Jesus as the Son of Man, with special emphasis on the poor, women, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1Now it came to pass, while the multitude pressed upon him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;
2and he saw two boats standing by the lake: but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
3And he entered into one of the boats, which was Simon`s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the multitudes out of the boat.
4And when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.
5And Simon answered and said, Master, we toiled all night, and took nothing: but at thy word I will let down the nets.
6And when they had done this, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes; and their nets were breaking;
7and they beckoned unto their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.
8But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus` knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
9For he was amazed, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken;
10and so were also James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.
11And when they had brought their boats to land, they left all, and followed him.
12And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
13And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him.
14And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
15But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities.
16But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed.
17And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judaea and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
18And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19And not finding by what [way] they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20And seeing their faith, he said, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this that speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22But Jesus perceiving their reasonings, answered and said unto them, Why reason ye in your hearts?
23Which is easier, to say, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise and walk?
24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath authority on earth to forgive sins (he said unto him that was palsied), I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go unto thy house.
25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
26And amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God; and they were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to-day.
27And after these things he went forth, and beheld a publican, named Levi, sitting at the place of toll, and said unto him, Follow me.
28And he forsook all, and rose up and followed him.
29And Levi made him a great feast in his house: and there was a great multitude of publicans and of others that were sitting at meat with them.
30And the Pharisees and their scribes murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with the publicans and sinners?
31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are in health have no need of a physician; but they that are sick.
32I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
33And they said unto him, The disciples of John fast often, and make supplications; likewise also the [disciples] of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink.
34And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.
36And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.
37And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins, and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish.
38But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins.
39And no man having drunk old [wine] desireth new; for he saith, The old is good.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And it came to pass, that as the people pressed upon him, etc.] As Christ went through Galilee, and preached in the synagogues there, great crowds of people attended on him, and they followed him wherever he went; and so large were their numbers, and so very eager were they to see him, and hear him, that they were even troublesome to him, and bore hard upon him, and were ready to press him down, though they had no ill design upon him, but only to hear the word of God; the scriptures of the Old Testament explained, and the doctrines of the Gospel preached; and which were preached by him, as never were before or…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“MIRACULOUS DRAUGHT OF FISHES--CALL OF PETER, JAMES, AND JOHN. (Luk 5:1-11) taught . . . out of the ship--(See on Mat 13:2).”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The people pressed upon his - Multitudes came to hear. There were times in the life of our Saviour when thousands were anxious to hear him, and when many, as we have no reason to doubt, became his true followers. Indeed, it is not possible to tell what “might” have been his success, had not the Pharisees and scribes, and those who were in office, opposed him, and taken measures to draw the people away from his ministry; “for the common people heard him gladly,” Mark 12:37. The Lake of Gennesaret - Called also the Sea of Galilee and the Sea of Tiberias. “Gennesaret was the more ancient name of the lake, taken from…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Mat 4:18; Mar 1:16. Luke 5:6”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“5:1-11 This is the first call of disciples recorded in Luke; Matthew and Mark recount a (presumably earlier) call of the four fishermen brothers (Matt 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20). Jesus demonstrated extraordinary authority in the miraculous catch of fish and in his call of Simon Peter.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“it: Luk 8:45, Luk 12:1; Mat 4:18-22, Mat 11:12; Mar 1:16-20, Mar 3:9, Mar 5:24 the lake: Num 34:11, Chinnereth, Jos 12:3, Chinneroth, Mat 14:34; Mar 6:53 Luke 5:2”
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