Luke 8:45
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Peter's bold, sometimes presumptuous responses to Jesus appear throughout the Gospels—here questioning Jesus' seemingly illogical inquiry, later rebuking Jesus' prediction of suffering (Matthew 16:22), declaring he would never deny Christ (Matthew 26:33-35), then doing exactly that. Peter's impetuosity reflects genuine devotion combined with incomplete understanding—a pattern common among disciples still learning to trust Jesus' wisdom beyond appearances.
The crowd's size and press around Jesus illustrates His immense popularity during this Galilean ministry phase. Multitudes followed Him everywhere, seeking healing, teaching, and miracles. In such chaos, identifying one specific touch seemed impossible—yet Jesus' divine omniscience perceived not just physical contact but spiritual intention. He knew immediately that healing power had flowed from Him in response to faith.
This incident occurred while Jairus waited desperately for Jesus to reach his dying daughter. The delay caused by Jesus' question and the coming dialogue (vv. 46-48) would test Jairus' faith severely. From human perspective, Jesus was wasting precious time on what seemed an insignificant matter while a child lay dying. Yet divine wisdom operates beyond human urgency, accomplishing multiple purposes simultaneously.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' distinction between casual physical contact and faith-filled touching challenge superficial religious participation?
- What does Peter's bold questioning reveal about the disciples' ongoing process of learning to trust Jesus' wisdom beyond appearances?
- How should we respond when God's timing seems to ignore our urgent needs to address what appears less important?
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Analysis & Commentary
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? Jesus' question "Who touched me?" (Tis ho hapsamenos mou, Τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου) seems absurd given the pressing crowd. His disciples recognized this—"when all denied" (arnoumenōn de pantōn, ἀρνουμένων δὲ πάντων) indicates the crowd collectively protested that identifying one touch among many was impossible. Peter's response represents the disciples' pragmatic incredulity.
Peter addressed Jesus as "Master" (Epistata, Ἐπιστάτα), Luke's characteristic term emphasizing Jesus' teaching authority and leadership. His question "the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?" (hoi ochloi sunechousin se kai apothlibousin, kai legeis, Tis ho hapsamenos mou?, οἱ ὄχλοι συνέχουσίν σε καὶ ἀποθλίβουσιν, καὶ λέγεις, Τίς ὁ ἁψάμενός μου;) expresses bewilderment. The verbs sunechō (συνέχω, "hem in, constrain") and apothlibō (ἀποθλίβω, "press against, crowd") convey the crush of bodies surrounding Jesus.
Yet Jesus distinguished between casual physical contact and faith-filled touch. Hundreds touched Him physically as the crowd pressed, but one person touched Him spiritually—reaching out in desperate faith, believing His power could heal. This distinction remains crucial: religious activity, church attendance, and proximity to Christian community differ fundamentally from personal faith that grasps Christ for salvation. Jesus perceives the difference between mere contact and genuine trust.