Luke 17:16

16 And he fell down on the face before his feet, and did thankings [doing graces, or thankings]; and this was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:16 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 17:16

And he fell down on his face at his feet
For being cleansed, he might draw nigh unto Jesus; and which he did, with the most profound respect unto him, and reverence of him; and having a deep sense of the favour he had received from him, prostrated himself in this manner before him:

giving him thanks;
who had shown compassion to him, had exerted his power on him, and had favoured him with such a singular mercy, as restoring him to health:

and he was a Samaritan;
this is particularly remarked by the evangelist, because the Samaritans were reckoned by the Jews, to be ignorant and irreligious persons, and no better than Heathens; and yet this man behaved as a religious good man, who had a sense of his mercy, knew his duty, and his obligations, and performed them; when the other nine, who very likely were all Jews, acted a very stupid and ungrateful part.

Luke 17:16 In-Context

14 And as he saw them, he said [Whom, when he saw, he said], Go, show ye you to the priests. And it was done, while they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, as he saw that he was cleansed, went again, magnifying God with a great voice.
16 And he fell down on the face before his feet, and did thankings [doing graces, or thankings]; and this was a Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answered, and said [Forsooth Jesus answering said], Whether ten be not cleansed, and where be the nine?
18 There is none found, that turned again, and gave glory to God, but this alien [but this alien, or stranger].
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.