What is the meaning of Luke 7:18? Then • The verse opens with a time-marker that links directly to the previous narratives: Jesus had just healed the centurion’s servant (Luke 7:1-10) and raised the widow’s son at Nain (Luke 7:11-17). • Scripture records that “fear gripped them all, and they glorified God” (Luke 7:16). The momentum of these miracles sets the stage for what follows. • “Then” underscores a literal, historical sequence—God working in real time, in real places, for all to see (cf. John 20:30-31). John’s disciples • These were loyal followers of John the Baptist, men who had once stood with him at the Jordan (John 1:35-37) and continued to learn from him even after Jesus’ public ministry began (Luke 5:33). • Their allegiance shows John’s enduring influence, despite his imprisonment by Herod (Luke 3:19-20). • While some of John’s disciples had already begun following Jesus (John 1:40), others stayed near their original teacher, illustrating different stages of understanding yet the same longing for Messiah. informed him • “Him” points to John himself, now confined but still very much engaged in God’s plan (Matthew 11:2). • The verb pictures a purposeful report—news carried from the public square to a prison cell so that John could stay current with what God was doing through Jesus. • Even chains cannot silence testimony: God ensures His servants receive the confirmation they need (2 Timothy 2:9). about all these things • “All these things” encompasses the fresh wave of miracles, preaching, and compassion just witnessed: – The spoken word that healed a dying servant (Luke 7:7-10). – The authoritative command that raised a dead son (Luke 7:14-15). – The amazement that swept the crowd, who declared, “God has visited His people!” (Luke 7:16). • These events fit the Messianic signs foretold in Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1, the very passages Jesus will soon cite to John’s envoys (Luke 7:22-23). • The comprehensive report invites John to recalibrate his expectations, moving from the fiery judgment he had preached (Luke 3:7-9) to the mercy now unveiled in Christ. summary Luke 7:18 captures a pivotal moment: immediately after stunning miracles, John’s loyal disciples bring firsthand testimony to their imprisoned teacher. The verse highlights God’s precise timing, the faithfulness of John’s followers, the unstoppable spread of eyewitness news, and the cumulative evidence that Jesus is indeed the promised Messiah. |
    |