While this verse sets the stage for Jesus' teaching, notice that Luke emphasizes His healing work in this specific location before he describes the discourse. The vast crowd, drawn from far and wide, came primarily seeking relief from physical ailments, highlighting the tangible impact of Jesus' power even before He shared His deeper spiritual truths.
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, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured. And all the crowd sought to touch him, for power came out from him and healed them all.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus had spent the night praying on a mountain before gathering his disciples and choosing the twelve apostles. He then descended with them to a level area where a massive crowd, eager to hear him and be healed, had gathered from far and wide. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to deliver a significant discourse, surrounded by the newly chosen apostles and the expectant multitude.
Imagine the quiet intensity of Jesus spending a whole night in prayer. What happens immediately after such a profound communion with God?
Before Jesus begins one of His most significant teaching moments, Luke highlights a crucial sequence: Jesus spends the night in prayer on a mountain, then descends to a level place.
Divine Preparation
Luke emphasizes that Jesus' ministry wasn't spontaneous; it was deeply rooted in communion with His Father. Spending the night in prayer shows His reliance on God and the intentionality behind His actions. This wasn't just a casual moment; it was a sacred prelude.
Gathering the Masses
After this time of prayer, Jesus descends to a 'plain' or 'level place.' Here, He meets two distinct groups:
This scene sets the stage for the monumental teachings that follow, showing Jesus at the heart of a diverse and expectant crowd.
The crowds came from incredibly diverse places, all seeking something from Jesus. What drew them in such vast numbers?
Luke paints a picture of Jesus as a powerful magnet, drawing people from a vast geographical area – all of Judea, Jerusalem, and even the coastal regions of Tyre and Sidon.
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Geographical Reach
This wasn't a local gathering. The mention of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities, underscores the expansive appeal of Jesus' ministry. People traveled significant distances, overcoming geographical barriers, driven by what they had heard.
Dual Desires
Their purpose was twofold:
This verse shows Jesus as the focal point of hope and healing for a deeply troubled world.
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.
nosos · Greek Noun
A state of physical, mental, or spiritual suffering; often used to describe various physical illnesses, but in the Gospels, it is sometimes linked to the consequences of the fall or the presence of demonic influence.
akathartos pneuma · Greek Noun phrase
Spiritual beings under the authority of the devil who oppose God's rule and human well-being. They cause suffering and moral corruption, and their presence necessitates the exorcistic power of Jesus.
dynamis · Greek Noun
The miraculous, inherent divine energy or authority of God. In the context of Jesus, it represents His authority over creation, sickness, and the spiritual realm to restore humanity.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus' Ministry Expands
Jesus begins his public ministry, attracting crowds from Galilee and surrounding regions. His message and healing miracles gain widespread attention.
Early 1st century AD
Jesus Spends Night in Prayer
Following a day of ministry and healing, Jesus withdraws to a mountain, likely near the Sea of Galilee, to spend the entire night in prayer to God.
Early 1st century AD
Selection of the Twelve Apostles
In the morning after his night of prayer, Jesus calls out and formally appoints his twelve closest disciples from the larger group of his followers. This establishes the core leadership for his mission.
Early 1st century AD— this verse
Jesus Descends to a Level Place
Jesus comes down from the mountain with his disciples and stands on a level area on the hillside. A great crowd, including his disciples and people from various regions, has gathered to hear him and be healed.
Early 1st century AD
Sermon on the Plain/Mount
Jesus delivers a significant discourse, recorded in part by Luke (Sermon on the Plain) and Matthew (Sermon on the Mount). This teaching addresses core principles of discipleship and the Kingdom of God.
This passage describes Jesus going up on a mountain to teach, which is often seen as the parallel or a similar event to the crowd gathering on a level place in Luke 6:17, highlighting Jesus' teaching ministry to large, diverse crowds.
Isaiah 61:1This Old Testament prophecy speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the anointed one to 'preach good news to the poor' and 'bind up the brokenhearted,' resonating with the purpose of Jesus' gathering the multitudes for both healing and teaching.
1 Samuel 16:7This verse emphasizes that God looks at the heart, not outward appearances, which powerfully connects to Jesus' teachings in Luke 6, as He addresses the inner disposition of His followers rather than external religious performance.
Acts 4:32This verse describes the early Christian community sharing all things in common, reflecting the radical discipleship and community Jesus began to model and teach to the great crowd in Luke 6.
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…
While this verse sets the stage for Jesus' teaching, notice that Luke emphasizes His healing work in this specific location before he describes the discourse. The vast crowd, drawn from far and wide, came primarily seeking relief from physical ailments, highlighting the tangible impact of Jesus' power even before He shared His deeper spiritual truths.
Jesus had spent the night praying on a mountain before gathering his disciples and choosing the twelve apostles. He then descended with them to a level area where a massive crowd, eager to hear him and be healed, had gathered from far and wide. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to deliver a significant discourse, surrounded by the newly chosen apostles and the expectant multitude.
Jesus had spent the night praying on a mountain before gathering his disciples and choosing the twelve apostles. He then descended with them to a level area where a massive crowd, eager to hear him and be healed, had gathered from far and wide. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to deliver a significant discourse, surrounded by the newly chosen apostles and the expectant multitude.
"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, who came to hear him and to be healed of their dise…" — While this verse sets the stage for Jesus' teaching, notice that Luke emphasizes His healing work in this specific location before he describes the discourse. The vast crowd, drawn from far and w…
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Last reviewed October 2026
