As the time drew near when Jesus would be taken up to heaven, he made up his mind and set out on his way to Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead of him, who went into a village in Samaria to get everything ready for him. But the people there would not receive him, because it was clear that he was on his way to Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
Jesus turned and rebuked them. Then Jesus and his disciples went on to another village.

[Ἐγένετο δὲ ἐν τῷ συμπληροῦσθαι τὰς ἡμέρας τῆς ἀναλήμψεως αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς τὸ πρόσωπον ἐστήρισεν τοῦ πορεύεσθαι εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ. καὶ ἀπέστειλεν ἀγγέλους πρὸ προσώπου αὐτοῦ. καὶ πορευθέντες εἰσῆλθον εἰς κώμην Σαμαριτῶν ὡς ἑτοιμάσαι αὐτῷ· καὶ οὐκ ἐδέξαντο αὐτόν, ὅτι τὸ πρόσωπον αὐτοῦ ἦν πορευόμενον εἰς Ἰερουσαλήμ.
ἰδόντες δὲ οἱ μαθηταὶ Ἰάκωβος καὶ Ἰωάννης εἶπαν, Κύριε, θέλεις εἴπωμεν πῦρ καταβῆναι ἀπὸ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ καὶ ἀναλῶσαι αὐτούς;
στραφεὶς δὲ ἐπετίμησεν αὐτοῖς. καὶ ἐπορεύθησαν εἰς ἑτέραν κώμην.]

The Bible (The New Testament) (AD 1st - 2nd C) Christian sacred scripture
Luke 9: 51-56 [GNT (1992 ed.)]
    (Source)

No Synoptic parallels. Only Luke and John (John 9:4-42) mention Jesus preaching in Samaritan lands. In Matthew 10:5, the disciples are explicitly warned not to enter Samaritan towns.

The primary outward dispute between the Samaritans and the Jews was (and is) over the former's venerating Mount Gerizim and the latter Jerusalem as the holiest site, each claiming the location for where the Binding of Isaac occurred. A pilgrim passing through Samaria headed for Jerusalem would not receive a warm welcome.

The GNT, NRSV, and NIV note that in some manuscripts, John and James recommend calling down fire to destroy them "as Elijah did" (2 Kings 1:10). The GNT and NRSV note some manuscripts give Jesus' actual rebuke: "You don't know what kind of a Spirit you belong to; for the Son of Man did not come to destroy human lives, but to save them." Both additional texts were included in the KJV.

(Source (Greek)). Alternate translations:

And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he steadfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem.
And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?
But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
[KJV (1611)]

Now as the time drew near for him to be taken up to heaven, he resolutely took the road for Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem.
Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?"
But he turned and rebuked them, and they went off to another village.
[JB (1966)]

Now it happened that as the time drew near for him to be taken up, he resolutely turned his face towards Jerusalem and sent messengers ahead of him. These set out, and they went into a Samaritan village to make preparations for him, but the people would not receive him because he was making for Jerusalem.
Seeing this, the disciples James and John said, "Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?"
But he turned and rebuked them, and they went on to another village.
[NJB (1985)]

As the time approached when Jesus was to be taken up into heaven, he determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent messengers on ahead of him. Along the way, they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival, but the Samaritan villagers refused to welcome him because he was determined to go to Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to consume them?”
But Jesus turned and spoke sternly to them, and they went on to another village.
[CEB (2011)]

As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem.
When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?”
But Jesus turned and rebuked them, and they went to another village.
[NIV (2011 ed.)]

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to prepare for his arrival, but they did not receive him because his face was set toward Jerusalem.
When his disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?”
But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
[NRSV (2021 ed.)]


 
Added on 16-Jul-07 | Last updated 19-Aug-25
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , ,
More quotes by Bible, vol. 2, New Testament

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *