And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,
English Standard Version (ESV)
It’s easy to overlook that Jesus descended to a level place after spending the night in prayer and selecting the Twelve, and it was there He first met the massive crowd, healing their sick before delivering His teaching. This sets the stage: His miraculous power and compassion draw people in, creating a receptive audience hungry for His words.
And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon,
English Standard Version (ESV)
After spending the night in prayer on a mountain, Jesus descended with his disciples and encountered a vast crowd from surrounding regions, all eager to hear his teachings and be healed. This gathering, composed of both his followers and a multitude of people, set the stage for a significant discourse and a remarkable display of his healing power.
Before Jesus commissioned His closest followers, He spent a significant time in prayer. What does this tell us about how He approached His mission and the importance of prayer in leadership?
Luke 6:12-13 sets the stage for this moment. Jesus had spent the entire night in prayer to God before this day. This wasn't just a casual pause; it was a deep communion with His Father, a deliberate act of preparation before commissioning the twelve apostles and addressing the crowds. This shows us that Jesus, even with His divine nature, valued and prioritized direct connection with God before embarking on crucial ministry. His prayerful preparation ensured He was aligned with God's will and empowered for the tasks ahead.
The crowd gathered wasn't just local; people traveled from far and wide. What does this wide-reaching appeal reveal about Jesus' message and impact?
Verse 17 paints a picture of an astonishingly diverse crowd: 'a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the sea-coast of Tyre and Sidon.' This wasn't a small, provincial gathering. People journeyed from regions both within Jewish territory and from Gentile areas. They came with a dual purpose: 'to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases.' This tells us that Jesus' fame and the impact of His ministry transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. His message of hope and the reality of His healing power drew people from all walks of life, united by a common need for what only Jesus could provide.
Jesus descends to a 'level place' or 'plain.' Why is this specific setting significant for the delivery of His profound teachings and for the crowds who came seeking Him?
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The text mentions Jesus 'came down with them and stood on a level place.' While Matthew describes Jesus going up a mountain and sitting to teach (Matthew 5:1), Luke places Jesus on a level spot after descending. This isn't a contradiction but a picture of Jesus meeting the people where they are. The 'level place' or 'plain' (as noted in commentaries, likely a plateau or wide ledge on the hillside) provided a more accessible and practical space for the large, mixed crowd to gather and for Jesus to address them. It facilitated the healing of many as described in the following verses, and it set the stage for the foundational teachings that followed. This deliberate choice of location underscores Jesus' desire to make His message and His healing accessible to all who sought Him.
Understand the original words
mathētēs · Greek Noun
A student, learner, or follower who adheres to the teachings and example of a master. In the New Testament, it denotes those who have put their faith in Jesus Christ and seek to follow Him.
This event marks a pivotal moment where Jesus transitions from intimate prayer and the selection of His core team to a public demonstration of His power and teaching, drawing crowds from far and wide.
c. AD 27-30
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins His public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. His fame spreads throughout the region.
c. AD 28
Jesus Spends Night in Prayer
Jesus retreats to a mountain to pray all night, a crucial time of preparation before making significant decisions.
c. AD 28
Selection of the Twelve Apostles
Following His night of prayer, Jesus calls and formally appoints His twelve closest apostles from among His many disciples.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus Descends to a Level Place
Jesus comes down from the mountainside with His disciples and stands on a level area to address a massive crowd gathered to see Him and be healed.
c. AD 28
Mass Healing and Teaching
Jesus heals many people from diverse regions, including Galilee, Judea, Tyre, and Sidon, before delivering a significant discourse (the Sermon on the Mount/Plain).
This passage describes Jesus going up on a mountain to teach, which is often seen as parallel to Luke's account of Him coming down to a level place to teach a large crowd, highlighting different perspectives on the same event or similar teachings.
Isaiah 40:3The idea of a voice crying in the wilderness to prepare the way for the Lord resonates with Jesus' ministry, drawing vast crowds from all regions to hear His words and be healed.
Acts 10:38This verse speaks of Jesus 'going about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,' which directly mirrors the great multitude seeking Jesus in Luke 6:17 for healing from all sorts of diseases.
1 Samuel 16:7While God looks at the heart, the widespread gathering of people from diverse regions to Jesus in Luke 6:17 reflects the universal need and desire for God's intervention, both spiritual and physical, that transcends outward appearances.
clarkeLuke 6:17: "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;"
And stood in the plain - In Matthew 5:1 , which is supposed to be the parallel place, our Lord is represented as delivering this sermon on the mountain; and this has induced some to think that the sermon mentioned here by Luke, thoug…
pulpitLuke 6:17: "And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;"
Verse 17. - And he came down with them, and stood in the plain. Leaving the uppermost slopes of the hill - the modern Kurm Hattin, or "Horns of Hattin" - where he had spent the night alone in prayer - Jesus probably descended a littl…
It’s easy to overlook that Jesus descended to a level place after spending the night in prayer and selecting the Twelve, and it was there He first met the massive crowd, healing their sick before delivering His teaching. This sets the stage: His miraculous power and compassion draw people in, creating a receptive audience hungry for His words.
After spending the night in prayer on a mountain, Jesus descended with his disciples and encountered a vast crowd from surrounding regions, all eager to hear his teachings and be healed. This gathering, composed of both his followers and a multitude of people, set the stage for a significant discourse and a remarkable display of his healing power.
After spending the night in prayer on a mountain, Jesus descended with his disciples and encountered a vast crowd from surrounding regions, all eager to hear his teachings and be healed. This gathering, composed of both his followers and a multitude of people, set the stage for a significant discourse and a remarkable display of his healing power.
"And he came down with them and stood on a level place, with a great crowd of his disciples and a great multitude of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the seacoast of Tyre and Sidon," — It’s easy to overlook that Jesus descended to a level place after spending the night in prayer and selecting the Twelve, and it was there He first met the massive crowd, healing their sick before d…
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Last reviewed October 2026