Luke 9:3

3 And He said to them, "1Take nothing for your journey, 2neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.

Luke 9:3 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:3

And he said unto them, take nothing for your journey
Throughout the towns and cities of Judea, where they were sent to preach the Gospel:

neither staves,
The Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions, read in the singular number, "neither staff, rod, or club"; and so it was in one of Beza's ancient copies, but in all the rest in the plural, as in Matthew; which last must be the true reading, since one staff was allowed, according as in ( Mark 6:8 ) though more than one were forbidden:

nor scrip;
or bag to put provision in; (See Gill on Matthew 10:10)

Neither bread, neither money;
gold, silver, or brass, to buy bread with; because they were to have it, wherever they came, given them, as their due, and the reward of their labour;

neither have two coats apiece;
the word "apiece" is left out in one copy, nor is it expressed in the Vulgate Latin and the eastern versions, which read as in ( Matthew 10:10 ) though the word does aptly and clearly express the sense of the prohibition, which was not that they should not have two coats among them, but not two apiece; or each man should not have two, or have change of raiment; (See Gill on Matthew 10:10)

Luke 9:3 In-Context

1 And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases.
2 And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to perform healing.
3 And He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, neither a staff, nor a bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not even have two tunics apiece.
4 "Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that city.
5 "And as for those who do not receive you, as you go out from that city, shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

Cross References 2

  • 1. Luke 9:3-5: {Matthew 10:9-15; Mark 6:8-11;} Luke 10:4-12; Luke 22:35
  • 2. Matthew 10:10; Mark 6:8; Luke 22:35

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or "knapsack" or "beggar's bag"
  • [b]. Or "inner garments"
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