Luke 9:49

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us

49 And John answered [and] said, "Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us."

Luke 9:49 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 9:49

And John answered and said, Master
The Syriac and Persic versions read, "our Master":

we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and we forbad him;
(See Gill on Mark 9:38)

Because he followeth not with us;
the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, "because he followeth not thee with us"; did not join in company with them, and follow Christ along with them, and as they did.

Luke 9:49 In-Context

47 But Jesus, [because he] knew the thoughts of their hearts, took hold of a child and had him stand beside him

48 and said to them, "Whoever welcomes this child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For the one who is least among you all--this one is great."

49 And John answered [and] said, "Master, we saw someone expelling demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him, because he does not follow in company with us."

50 But Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent [him], because whoever is not against you is for you."

51 Now it happened that when the days were approaching {for him to be taken up}, he set [his] face to go to Jerusalem.

Footnotes

• [a] *Here "[and]" is supplied because the previous participle ("answered") has been translated as a finite verb