Luke 5

Luke 5

The big picture

Luke 5 opens in verse 1 with “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he…”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.”, and closes in verse 39 with “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is…” Repeated or prominent terms include Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

Luke · King James Version · 39

Luke 5:1-8

1–8: It came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word…

Luke 5:1–8 opens with “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by…” and reaches “When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 5 develops its own movement around Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, with particular weight carried by ships, Simon, lake.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the…” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

Luke 5:1-8

King James Version

1And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,

2And saw two ships standing by the lake: but the fishermen were gone out of them, and were washing their nets.

3And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

4Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

5And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

6And when they had this done, they inclosed a great multitude of fishes: and their net brake.

7And they beckoned unto their partners, which were in the other ship, that they should come and help them. And they came, and filled both the ships, so that they began to sink.

8When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.

Luke 5:9-16

9–16: For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the…

Luke 5:9–16 opens with “For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had…” and reaches “And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 5 develops its own movement around Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, with particular weight carried by clean, Jesus, leprosy.

Context that brings the passage to life

“For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.” The line’s distinctive content terms include followed, forsook, land. Its relationship to verses 10 and 12 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from…” The line’s distinctive content terms include clean, departed, hand. Its relationship to verses 12 and 14 shows what work it does in this passage.

Luke 5:9-16

King James Version

9For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the draught of the fishes which they had taken:

10And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.

11And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.

12And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

13And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

14And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

15But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

16And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Luke 5:17-24

17–24: It came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were…

Luke 5:17–24 opens with “And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors…” and reaches “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 5 develops its own movement around Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, with particular weight carried by sins, couch, forgive.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 3 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the…” Naming Jesus keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

Luke 5:17-24

King James Version

17And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.

18And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

19And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

20And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Luke 5:25-32

25–32: Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and…

Luke 5:25–32 opens with “And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own…” and reaches “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 5 develops its own movement around Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, with particular weight carried by house, Levi, publicans.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 1 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying…” The verse names God rather than leaving the action without a source. Watch whether the next line continues, answers, or contrasts that action.

Luke 5:25-32

King James Version

25And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

27And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.

28And he left all, rose up, and followed him.

29And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.

30But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

31And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.

32I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Luke 5:33-39

33–39: They said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make…

Luke 5:33–39 opens with “And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise…” and reaches “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on Luke 5 develops its own movement around Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, with particular weight carried by bottles, wine, fast.

Context that brings the passage to life

This block contains 2 explicit questions. They are more than punctuation: they reveal where a voice is searching, challenging, afraid, or trying to understand.

“And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the…” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

Luke 5:33-39

King James Version

33And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?

34And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?

35But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.

36And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.

37And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.

38But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.

39No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Details worth noticing

39verses in this reading
5major movements
11verses with speech
6questions in the KJV text

The opening image

Luke 5:1 begins with “And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret,”

Where the chapter turns

Luke 5:21 forms a natural hinge: “And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”

The final note

Luke 5:39 leaves the reader with “No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.”

A word trail through the chapter

The words Jesus, Simon, taken, bottles, Pharisees, ships help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.

What does the repeated ending make readers feel?

Death becomes the chapter's persistent refrain, even as generation follows generation.

What two interruptions offer hope?

Enoch's walk with God and Lamech's hope attached to Noah.

KJV words made clear

behold
look, or pay close attention
unto
to
thee
you
thou
you
thy
your

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.