Luke 9:3

3 1And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, 2no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.[a]

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 demons and to cure diseases,
2 and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal.
3 And he said to them, "Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.
4 And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.
5 And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."

Cross References 2

  • 1. For ver. 3-5, see Matthew 10:9-14; Mark 6:8-11; [Luke 10:4-11; Luke 22:35]
  • 2. [Mark 6:8]

Footnotes 1

  • [a]. Greek chiton, a long garment worn under the cloak next to the skin
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.