Luke 8:1
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and the twelve were with him,
Original Language Analysis
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
1 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἐγένετο
it came to pass
G1096
ἐγένετο
it came to pass
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
2 of 24
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
τῷ
G3588
τῷ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
καθεξῆς
G2517
καθεξῆς
Strong's:
G2517
Word #:
5 of 24
thereafter, i.e., consecutively; as a noun (by ellipsis of noun) a subsequent person or time
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
6 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
αὐτῷ
him
G846
αὐτῷ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
7 of 24
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
κατὰ
throughout every
G2596
κατὰ
throughout every
Strong's:
G2596
Word #:
9 of 24
(prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κηρύσσων
preaching
G2784
κηρύσσων
preaching
Strong's:
G2784
Word #:
13 of 24
to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
εὐαγγελιζόμενος
shewing the glad tidings
G2097
εὐαγγελιζόμενος
shewing the glad tidings
Strong's:
G2097
Word #:
15 of 24
to announce good news ("evangelize") especially the gospel
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
16 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
βασιλείαν
of the kingdom
G932
βασιλείαν
of the kingdom
Strong's:
G932
Word #:
17 of 24
properly, royalty, i.e., (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
18 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
θεοῦ
of God
G2316
θεοῦ
of God
Strong's:
G2316
Word #:
19 of 24
a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
20 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Matthew 4:23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.Romans 10:15And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!Acts 10:38How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.Acts 13:32And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,Mark 1:39And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.Matthew 13:19When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side.Matthew 9:35And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.Matthew 11:1And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities.Luke 4:18The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,
Historical Context
First-century rabbinic education emphasized accompanying teachers in daily life rather than formal classroom instruction. Jesus' itinerant ministry pattern followed prophetic precedent (Elijah, Elisha) while radically expanding accessibility—most rabbis taught in fixed locations, but Jesus brought the kingdom message to remote villages. Galilee contained numerous small towns within walking distance, allowing systematic coverage. This period (likely AD 28-29) represents Jesus' most intensive public ministry phase before opposition intensified. The presence of the Twelve (formally commissioned in Luke 6:13-16) indicates this occurred after their appointment, as Jesus trained them through observation and participation in His ministry.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' systematic evangelization of both cities and villages challenge modern tendencies to focus ministry efforts only on urban centers or only on established congregations?
- What does the pairing of 'preaching' and 'showing glad tidings' teach about the balance between prophetic proclamation and gospel invitation in Christian ministry?
- In what ways does Jesus' model of training the Twelve through constant accompaniment rather than mere classroom instruction inform discipleship practices today?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And it came to pass afterward, that he went throughout every city and village, preaching and shewing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God—Luke emphasizes Jesus' comprehensive itinerant ministry using diodeuen (διοδεύειν, "to journey through") describing systematic travel through urban centers (polin, πόλιν) and rural settlements (kōmēn, κώμην). The dual verbs kēryssōn (κηρύσσων, "preaching/proclaiming") and euangelizomenos (εὐαγγελιζόμενος, "announcing good news") highlight Jesus' prophetic role as herald of divine truth.
The phrase tēn basileian tou Theou (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, "the kingdom of God") is Luke's central theological theme—God's sovereign reign breaking into history through Messiah. This wasn't merely ethical teaching but announcement of eschatological fulfillment. And the twelve were with him (hoi dōdeka syn autō, οἱ δώδεκα σὺν αὐτῷ) emphasizes apostolic accompaniment. The Twelve weren't passive observers but active learners in Jesus' peripatetic seminary, embodying the rabbinic discipleship model where students absorbed teaching through constant proximity to their master.