Jesus travels to Capernaum after being rejected in Nazareth. In the synagogue, he casts out an unclean demon from a man. The people are amazed by his authority over evil spirits. Later, Jesus heals Simon Peter's mother-in-law of a fever and many others who are sick. Despite trying to leave for solitary prayer, the crowds search for Jesus and ask him to stay, but he says he must preach about the kingdom of God in other towns as well.

1. Barry Hollis www.bnhollis.com
bnh@bnhollis.com
The Gospel of Luke
Fall Semester
Session 02
September 30, 2015

3. Jesus returned to Capernaum after his rejection at Nazareth. Capernaum was located on the
northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Archaeological evidence from the second and third
centuries AD indicates it was a thriving town supported by fishing, agriculture, and trade. This
aerial view of the area of Capernaum shows the Sea of Galilee and some of the excavations,
including the fourth-to-fifth-century AD synagogue, the octagonal roof covering Peter’s house,
and walls outlining many insulae and individual dwellings. - R. T. France, Luke, 74.

4. Another view of synagogue at Capernaum. - R. T. France, Luke, 78.

5. Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and
was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished
at His teaching because His message had authority. 33 In the
synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit
who cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What do
You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to
destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Luke 4:31-34

6. 35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet and come out of
him!”
And throwing him down before them, the demon came out
of him without hurting him at all. 36 Amazement came over
them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this
message? For He commands the unclean spirits with
authority and power, and they come out!” 37 And news about
Him began to go out to every place in the vicinity.
Luke 4:35-37

7. Healings at Capernaum
38 After He left the synagogue, He entered Simon’s house.
Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and
they asked Him about her. 39 So He stood over her and
rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and
began to serve them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick
with various diseases brought them to Him. As He laid His
hands on each one of them, He would heal them. 41 Also,
demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You
are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not
allow them to speak, because they knew He was the
Messiah.
Luke 4:38-41

8. Preaching in Galilee
42 When it was day, He went out and made His way to a
deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They
came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them. 43 But
He said to them, “I must proclaim the good news about the
kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent
for this purpose.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues
of Galilee.
Luke 4:42-44

9. Driving Out an Unclean Spirit
31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and
was teaching them on the Sabbath. 32 They were astonished
at His teaching because His message had authority. 33 In the
synagogue there was a man with an unclean demonic spirit
who cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Leave us alone! What do
You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to
destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Luke 4:31-34

10. 35 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet and come out of
him!”
And throwing him down before them, the demon came out
of him without hurting him at all. 36 Amazement came over
them all, and they kept saying to one another, “What is this
message? For He commands the unclean spirits with
authority and power, and they come out!” 37 And news about
Him began to go out to every place in the vicinity.
Luke 4:35-37

11. The Christ Who Defeated Satan In The Wilderness Also
Has Authority Over All Demonic Forces
Marcus Borg, Jesus, A New Vision.
More so than extraordinary cures, exorcism is especially alien
to us in the modern world. In part, this is because we do not
normally see the phenomenon (though are there cases of
“possession” which we call by another name?). Even more, it
is because the notion of “possession” by a spirit from another
level of reality does not fit into our worldview. Rather,
possession and exorcism presuppose the reality of a world of
spirits which can interact with the visible world; that is, they
presuppose the truth of “primordial tradition.”

12. 23 Times
13 Times
11 Times
6 Times
1 Time

13. Healings at Capernaum
38 After He left the synagogue, He entered Simon’s house.
Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and
they asked Him about her. 39 So He stood over her and
rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and
began to serve them.
40 When the sun was setting, all those who had anyone sick
with various diseases brought them to Him. As He laid His
hands on each one of them, He would heal them. 41 Also,
demons were coming out of many, shouting and saying, “You
are the Son of God!” But He rebuked them and would not
allow them to speak, because they knew He was the
Messiah.
Luke 4:38-41

14. Jesus performs a miracle of healing in Simon Peter’s house when he cures Peter’s mother-in-law
of a fever. Shown here are the archaeological remains of a fifth-century church that many
scholars believe was built over Peter’s house in Capernaum. - R. T. France, Luke, 76.

15. Preaching in Galilee
42 When it was day, He went out and made His way to a
deserted place. But the crowds were searching for Him. They
came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving them. 43 But
He said to them, “I must proclaim the good news about the
kingdom of God to the other towns also, because I was sent
for this purpose.” 44 And He was preaching in the synagogues
of Galilee.
Luke 4:42-44

16. … this practice may be supported by the discovery of special seats or chairs as part of synagogue
architecture. Shown here to the left of the doorway of the second-century AD synagogue at
Chorazim is an elaborately carved seat. It is thought to have been meant for someone of
importance such as an elder or synagogue official. It has been suggested that it was the “seat of
Moses,” which is where the teachers of the law would provide instruction. - France, Luke, 2013,
70.