Luke 8:45

8:45 Then ¹  Jesus asked, ²  “Who was it who touched me?” When they all denied it, Peter ³  said, “Master, the crowds are surrounding you and pressing ⁴  against you!”

Luke 8:37

8:37 Then ⁵  all the people of the Gerasenes ⁶  and the surrounding region ⁷  asked Jesus ⁸  to leave them alone, ⁹  for they were seized with great fear. ¹⁰  So ¹¹  he got into the boat and left. ¹² 

---

¹ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

² tn Grk “said.”

³ tc Most mss, especially the later ones (א A C*^,3 D L W Θ Ξ Ψ Ë^1,13 33 Ï latt), also have “and those together with him” (with two different Greek constructions for the phrase “with him”), while several important witnesses omit this phrase (Ì⁷⁵ B Π 700* al sa). The singular verb εἶπεν (eipen, “he said”) could possibly suggest that only Peter was originally mentioned, but, if the longer reading is authentic, then εἶπεν would focus on Peter as the spokesman for the group, highlighting his prominence (cf. ExSyn 401-2). Nevertheless, the longer reading looks like a clarifying note, harmonizing this account with Mark 5:31.

⁴ sn Pressing is a graphic term used in everyday Greek of pressing grapes. Peter says in effect, “How could you ask this? Everyone is touching you!”

⁵ tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

⁶ tc See the tc note on “Gerasenes” in v. 26 for the same geographical options for the textual variants.

⁷ tn Grk “all the people of the surrounding region of the Gerasenes,” but according to L&N 1.80, “περίχωρος may include not only the surrounding region but also the point of reference, for example…‘the Gerasenes and the people living around them’ Lk 8:37.”

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

⁹ tn Or “to depart from them.”

¹⁰ sn Again there is great fear at God’s activity, but there is a different reaction. Some people want nothing to do with God’s presence. Mark 5:16 hints that economic reasons motivated their request.

¹¹ tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ departure was the result of the Gerasenes’ response. A new sentence was started in the translation at this point for stylistic reasons.

¹² tn Grk “returned,” but the effect is that he departed from the Gerasene region.