They
departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him. The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.
Luke 9:6-10
Luke 9 [1.] He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them out to preach God’s Kingdom and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for your journey—neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece. Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there. As many as don’t receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
Luke 9 [6.] They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere. Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead, and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again. Herod said, “John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?” He sought to see him. The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done.
He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.
Luke 9 [11.] But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of God’s Kingdom, and he cured those who needed healing. The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, “Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place.”
Meaning:
Jesus had sent out the twelve with power over demons and disease, to preach God’s Kingdom and heal the sick (Luke 9:1-5). These verses report the mission itself and its effect, which reached all the way to the palace of Herod Antipas. Luke frames the question about Herod between the sending out and the return of the apostles, as Mark does (Mark 6:12-20; Mark 6:30-33; Matthew 14:1-2).
- “Preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere”
The apostles did exactly what Jesus had commanded. They went from village to village with the message of the Kingdom, and the healings confirmed the message. For the first time Jesus’ work was multiplied through others. The movement was spreading far beyond what one person could reach.
- “Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done”
This is Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great, who ruled Galilee and Perea under Rome. “Tetrarch” originally meant the ruler of a quarter of a kingdom; Herod’s father’s kingdom had been divided among his sons. Herod had imprisoned John the Baptist for rebuking him over his marriage to his brother’s wife (Luke 3:19-20), and later had him beheaded.
- “He was very perplexed”
The rumours about Jesus were confusing. Some said John had come back from the dead; some that Elijah had appeared, as Malachi had promised: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes” (Malachi 4:5); others that one of the ancient prophets had risen. The same three opinions will be reported to Jesus by his disciples (Luke 9:19). The people sensed that something from God was happening, but they did not yet know who Jesus was.
- “John I beheaded, but who is this?”
Herod’s words carry guilt and fear. He thought he had silenced the voice from God by killing John, yet here was someone with even greater power. Herod asks the central question of these chapters, “who is this?” the same question the disciples asked in the storm (Luke 8:25).
- “He sought to see him”
Herod wanted to see Jesus, but out of curiosity rather than faith. He would finally meet him during Jesus’ trial: “Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time… He hoped to see some miracle done by him” (Luke 23:8). Jesus would not even answer him. Wanting to see Jesus is not the same as wanting to follow him.
- “The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done”
The apostles reported back to the one who had sent them. Their mission was his mission, and they were accountable to him. Mark adds that they told him “whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught,” and that Jesus invited them to “rest awhile” (Mark 6:30-31).
- “Withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida”
Bethsaida, meaning “house of fishing,” lay near where the Jordan enters the Sea of Galilee at its northern end. It was the home town of Philip, Andrew and Peter. Jesus took the apostles there to rest, though, as the next verses show, the crowds would soon follow (Luke 9:11-17).
The Significance of Luke 9:6-10
- Faithful in the work given
The apostles were ordinary men, but they obeyed and saw God work. Faithfulness in the task Jesus gives matters more than talent.
- Curiosity is not faith
Herod heard about Jesus, puzzled over him and wanted to see him, yet never trusted him. Many today are interested in Jesus in the same way. The question “who is this?” calls for an answer that leads to faith and obedience.
Cross-References:
Mark 6:12-13: "They went out and preached that people should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them." Mark’s account of the mission.
Malachi 4:5: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and terrible day of Yahweh comes." Why people expected Elijah.
Mark 6:30: "The apostles gathered themselves together to Jesus, and they told him all things, whatever they had done, and whatever they had taught." The return of the apostles.
Conclusion: In Luke 9:6-10 the twelve go through the villages preaching the Good News and healing. News of Jesus reaches Herod Antipas, who is perplexed because people say John the Baptist has risen, or Elijah has appeared, or an old prophet has returned. Herod, who beheaded John, asks “who is this?” and wants to see Jesus. The apostles return and report to Jesus, who takes them away to a quiet place near Bethsaida. The passage asks every reader the same question about who Jesus really is.
PIB Scriptures are derived from the World English Bible