Luke 9:54

54 And his disciples James and John having seen, said, `Sir, wilt thou [that] we may command fire to come down from the heaven, and to consume them, as also Elijah did?'

Luke 9:54 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:54

And when his disciples, James and John, saw this
The Persic version reads thus; when "James and John, and the disciples saw this"; that is, the other disciples besides them, so making all the disciples say what follows; whereas only those two are intended, who having been the messengers, were the more provoked at this indignity to their Lord and master:

they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from
heaven, and consume them;
being enraged at this conduct of the Samaritans towards, Christ, and burning with love to him, and zeal for his honour; being "Boanerges's", sons of thunder, they were for punishing of them in a most terrible manner, even with, fire from heaven; by which Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities of the plain, were destroyed: this they doubted not of doing, knowing what miraculous power was conferred upon them; but did not think proper to attempt to exert it, until they had asked leave of Christ to do it:

even as Elias did;
upon the two captains of fifties, with their fifties, as recorded in ( 2 Kings 1:9-12 ) This clause was wanting in a certain copy of Beza's, and is not in the Vulgate Latin version; but is in other copies and versions, and by all means to be retained.

Luke 9:54 In-Context

52 and he sent messengers before his face, and having gone on, they went into a village of Samaritans, to make ready for him,

53 and they did not receive him, because his face was going on to Jerusalem.

54 And his disciples James and John having seen, said, `Sir, wilt thou [that] we may command fire to come down from the heaven, and to consume them, as also Elijah did?'

55 and having turned, he rebuked them, and said, `Ye have not known of what spirit ye are;

56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save;' and they went on to another village.