Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary

Adam Clarke Commentary

They held their peace - They could not answer the question but in the affirmative; and as they were determined to accuse him if he did heal the man, they could not give an answer but such as would condemn themselves, and therefore they were silent.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

They held their peace - They were silent. They “could” not say it was not lawful, for the law did not forbid it. If it had they would have said it. Here was the time for them to make objections if they had any, and not after the man was healed; and as they “made” no objection “then,” they could not with consistency afterward. They were, therefore, effectually silenced and confounded by the Saviour.

He took him - Took hold of the man, or perhaps took him apart into another room. By taking hold of him, or touching him, he showed that the power of healing went forth from himself.

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible

But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.

Astounded by the position in which Jesus had placed them, and being unable to discover some means of saving face, they simply remained silent; whereupon, Jesus healed the man; and, since the man was evidently not one of the guests invited to dinner, the Lord sent him on his way.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

And they held their peace,.... Or were silent, choosing to say nothing, which might countenance such an action; and yet knew not how to condemn it:

and he took him, and healed him, and let him go; he took him by the hand, or laid his hands on him; he touched him, and, it may be, stroked the part affected, and in an instant the prodigious swelling of his body came down: for he who at his rebuke could dry up the sea, could by a touch dry up such a quantity of water, as was in this man's body; and then he dismissed him from the table and company, and he went home perfectly cured.

Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament

Took him (επιλαβομενος — epilabomenos). Second aorist middle participle of επιλαμβανω — epilambanō an old verb, only in the middle in the N.T. It is not redundant use, “took and healed,” but “took hold of him and healed him.” Only instance in the N.T. of its use in a case of healing.

Vincent's Word Studies

Took

Took hold of him. Luke 20:20; 1 Timothy 6:12.

The Fourfold Gospel

1. But they held their peace. If the lawyers and Pharisees declared it lawful, they defeated their plot, and if they said otherwise, they involved themselves in an argument with Jesus in which, as experience taught them, they would be humiliated before the people. Hence, they kept silence, but their silence only justified him, since it was the duty of every lawyer to pronounce this act unlawful if it had been so.

John Trapp Complete Commentary

4 And they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go;

Ver. 4. And he took him] Good must be done, however it be taken.

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible

Luke 14:4. And he took him,— The original επιλαβομενος, signifies either his taking hold of him, or laying his hand upon him. Doubtless our Lord could have accomplished this cure as well by a secret volition, and so might have cut off all manner of cavilling; but he chose rather to produce it by an action in which there was the very least degree of bodily labour that could be, because thus he had an opportunity of reproving the reigning superstition of the times.

Johann Albrecht Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament

Luke 14:4. ἰάσατο, He healed him) His adversaries were using the dropsical man as the cloke for assailing the Lord: but yet Jesus conferred the benefit on him.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible

See Poole on "Luke 14:1"

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

‘But they held their peace. And he took him, and healed him, and let him go.’

So they said nothing. They no doubt reclined there tight-lipped and observant, waiting to see what He would do. Perhaps He would think better of it. But Jesus was a faithful servant, and when they said nothing Jesus took the man, and healed him, and let him go. And who could criticise Him when they had refused to forbid it? It is reasonable to assume that the man was there because he had chosen to come, because he wanted to be healed. He had come in faith. And once again Jesus had revealed that He could make men right.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

4.Held their peace—Unable to condemn what their law permitted; unwilling to concede a point on which so much cavil had been founded. Jesus proposes the old question, as if the advantage had fairly turned on his side.

Took’ healed’ let go—Displaying his own mastery before their watching eyes with a sort of calm, majestic omnipotence.

 

Schaff's Popular Commentary on the New Testament

Luke 14:4. But they held their peace. They could attend feasts on the Sabbath, but could not say that it was right to heal the sick. Formalism is always thus inconsistent. Their silence was a confession of defeat, however. Then came the healing.

Sent him away. He was not a guest. The rebuke was not given until after the man had been sent away.

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

took = took bold of. Compare Luke 20:20. 1 Timothy 6:12.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) And he took him.—Better, he laid hold on him. The healing was, in this instance, effected by actual contact.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 21:25-27; 22:46