MAT 4:23-25

Jesus Heals the Multitudes

23And Jesus was going about all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

24And the report of him spread into all Syria; and they brought to him all who were ill, those gripped by various diseases and torments, those possessed by demons, and the epileptics, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

25And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Galilee, illness and disability were often seen as signs of impurity or divine disfavor, isolating individuals from communal and religious life. Synagogues served as centers of teaching and community gathering, where purity codes were strictly observed. Jesus’ proclamation of the (good news) of the kingdom would have evoked imperial associations, but here it signaled a divine reign that overturned societal expectations. His healing of diseases like epilepsy and paralysis addressed conditions often attributed to supernatural causes, such as lunar influence or demonic activity. The crowds from Galilee, Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan reflected a diverse mix of Jewish and Gentile populations, united by their need for relief from suffering. Jesus’ actions restored individuals to their communities, challenging assumptions about purity and divine favor while affirming the inclusivity of the kingdom.

›See the receipts

How other translations render this

MAT 4:23

KJV: And 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.
BSB: Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
Koinōnos: And Jesus was going about all of Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.

MAT 4:24

KJV: And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
BSB: News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
Koinōnos: And the report of him spread into all Syria; and they brought to him all who were ill, those gripped by various diseases and torments, those possessed by demons, and the epileptics, and the paralyzed; and he healed them.

MAT 4:25

KJV: And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
BSB: Large crowds followed Him, having come from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea, and beyond the Jordan.
Koinōnos: And great crowds followed him from Galilee and the Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judea and from beyond the Jordan.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Where the historical framing draws from

Josephus, AntiquitiesAntiquities 18.3.3

›Josephus, Antiquities Antiquities 18.3.3

“He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ.”

Cited to ground: He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.

Translator's notes

MAT 4:23

proclaiming:The word translated 'proclaiming' here is related to the idea of good news or a good message, often with the sense of a reward given for bringing such tidings.
kingdom:The word translated 'kingdom' here is more literally about serving or healing, suggesting an active role in care and restoration rather than just a realm of rule.

MAT 4:24

by pains:The phrase 'by pains' refers to a touchstone used to test the purity of gold, implying a severe test or torment rather than just general suffering.
and:The word translated 'and' in this context refers to being 'moonstruck' or epileptic, reflecting an ancient belief about the influence of the moon on certain conditions.