Lukas 5:18

5:18 Just then ¹  some men showed up, carrying a paralyzed man ²  on a stretcher. ³  They ⁴  were trying to bring him in and place him before Jesus. ⁵ 

Lukas 8:32

8:32 Now a large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, ⁶  and the demonic spirits ⁷  begged Jesus ⁸  to let them go into them. He gave them permission. ⁹ 

[5:18]  ¹ tn Grk “And behold.” Here καὶ ἰδού (kai idou) has been translated as “just then” to indicate the somewhat sudden appearance of the men carrying the paralytic. The Greek word ἰδού (idou) has no exact English equivalent here, but adds interest and emphasis (BDAG 468 s.v. 1), especially in conjunction with the suddenness of the stretcher-bearers’ appearance.

[5:18]  ² tn Grk “a man who was paralyzed”; the relative clause in Greek has adjectival force and has been simplified to a simple adjective in the translation.

[5:18]  ³ tn Traditionally, “on a bed,” but this could be confusing to the modern reader who might envision a large piece of furniture. In various contexts, κλίνη (klinh) may be translated “bed, couch, cot, stretcher, or bier” (in the case of a corpse). See L&N 6.106.

[5:18]  ⁴ tn Grk “stretcher, and.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style. Instead, because of the tendency of contemporary English to use shorter sentences, a new sentence was begun here in the translation.

[5:18]  ⁵ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ⁶ tn Grk “mountain,” but this might give the English reader the impression of a far higher summit.

[8:32]  ⁷ tn Grk “they”; the referent (the demonic spirits) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ⁸ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[8:32]  ⁹ sn Many have discussed why Jesus gave them permission, since the animals were destroyed. However, this is another example of a miracle that is a visual lesson. The demons are destructive: They were destroying the man. They destroyed the pigs. They destroy whatever they touch. The point was to take demonic influence seriously, as well as Jesus’ power over it as a picture of the larger battle for human souls. There would be no doubt how the man’s transformation had taken place.