Jesus Heals Many People: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 4:38-41

This Bible study series is for people who are learning English. It is designed for advanced beginner and intermediate learners, but children or adults who prefer simple English may also enjoy it. I also have a Sunday School lesson on Luke 4:31-44 that may work better for native English speakers.

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Luke 4:38-41 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 4:38-41 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever helped take care of someone who was sick? What did you do for them?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus healed many sick people. We will see that Jesus cares about those who are hurting. This story shows us that Jesus has power over sickness and demons.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
high fever: (phrase) A very hot body temperature that happens when a person is very sick.
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
mother-in-law: (noun) The mother of the person that someone is married to.
order: (verb) To tell someone they must do something.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

ask: (verb) To request help or to tell someone what you want.
began: (verb) To have started something.
brought: (verb) To have taken someone or something to a place.
command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
high fever: (phrase) A very hot body temperature that happens when a person is very sick.
knew: (verb) To have had information about something in your mind.
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
mother-in-law: (noun) The mother of the person that someone is married to.
order: (verb) To tell someone they must do something.
serve: (verb) To help or work for someone.
shout: (verb) To speak or yell very loudly.
sick: (adjective) Not feeling well or having a disease.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
went down: (phrase) When the sun disappears at the end of the day and it becomes dark.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

ask: (verb) To request help or to tell someone what you want.
began: (verb) To have started something.
brought: (verb) To have taken someone or something to a place.
close: (adjective) Near to someone or something.
command: (noun) An order that someone must obey.
demon: (noun) An evil spirit that follows the devil.
different: (adjective) Not the same.
gave: (verb) To have handed something over to another person.
got up: (phrase) To move the body from a sitting or lying position to a standing position.
heal: (verb) To make a sick or hurt person well again.
help: (verb) To do something useful for someone.
high fever: (phrase) A very hot body temperature that happens when a person is very sick.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
knew: (verb) To have had information about something in your mind.
laid hands on: (phrase) To put hands on a person to show care or to ask God to heal them.
left: (verb) To have gone away from a place.
Messiah: (noun) The “Chosen One” that God promised to send to save his people.
mother-in-law: (noun) The mother of the person that someone is married to.
order: (verb) To tell someone they must do something.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
serve: (verb) To help or work for someone.
shout: (verb) To speak or yell very loudly.
sick: (adjective) Not feeling well or having a disease.
sickness: (noun) A state of being ill or unhealthy.
Simon Peter: (noun) A man who was a close friend and follower of Jesus.
something: (pronoun) A thing, but it is not said what.
Son of God: (phrase) A special name for Jesus that shows he is the son of God the Father.
speak: (verb) To say words.
stood: (verb) To have been on your feet.
strong: (adjective) Having a lot of power or physical strength.
synagogue: (noun) A building where Jewish people meet to pray and study.
went down: (phrase) When the sun disappears at the end of the day and it becomes dark.

Summary of the Passage

This passage starts after Jesus finished teaching and left the synagogue. He went to the home of his friend, Simon Peter, but he found that Simon’s mother-in-law was very sick. She was suffering from a high fever, and the people in the house asked Jesus to do something to help her. Jesus stood very close to her bed and ordered the sickness to go away. Right away, the fever left her body and she felt strong again. She got up immediately and began to serve everyone by helping with the food and the house.

Later that evening, the sun went down and the Sabbath day of rest was over. This meant that the people were allowed to travel again, so they brought all of their sick friends to see Jesus. There were many people with different kinds of diseases, but Jesus laid hands on every single person and healed them all.

Many people also had demons inside them, which are evil spirits that follow the devil. As these spirits left, they shouted that Jesus was the Son of God. They knew he was the Messiah, which is the special leader God promised to send to save the world. Jesus gave a strong command for them to be quiet because he did not want the demons to speak about who he was yet.

This passage shows us that Jesus has great mercy for people who are in pain. He did not just stay in the synagogue to teach, but he went into a regular home to help a family. It shows us that God’s power can heal our bodies and protect us from evil spirits.

Read The Passage

Most English learners should use the Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), the New International Reader’s Version (NIRV), or the Good News Translation (GNT). If you want to try something harder, you can read one of the other Bible versions.

Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law
38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon’s house.
Simon’s mother-in-law was very sick.
She had a high fever.
They asked Jesus to do something to help her.
39 He stood very close to her and ordered the sickness to go away.
The sickness left her, and she got up and began serving them.
Jesus Heals Many Others
40 When the sun went down, the people brought their sick friends to Jesus.
They had many different kinds of sicknesses.
Jesus laid his hands on each sick person and healed them all.
41 Demons came out of many people.
The demons shouted,
“You are the Son of God.”
But Jesus gave a strong command for the demons not to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
Luke 4:38-41 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-To-Read Version: Luke 4:38-41 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 4:38-41 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 4:38-41 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 4:38-41 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 4:38-41 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 4:38-41 (ESV)

Luke 4:38-41 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Where did Jesus go after he was done at the synagogue?
What was the problem at the house of Simon?
What did Jesus do when he stood near the bed?
What did the woman do after the sickness left her?
Why did the crowd wait until the sun went down?
How did Jesus help the many people who were brought to him?
What happened when the demons came out of the people?
What did the demons know about Jesus?
What was the command Jesus gave to the demons?
Why did Jesus tell the demons not to talk?

Application Questions

How do you think the people felt after Jesus healed them?
Why do you think Jesus helped people who were sick?
What can we do to show care for people who are sick or hurting?
When you are afraid or not feeling well, who do you ask for help?
How does it feel to know Jesus loves and cares for people today too?

Theological Insights

Jesus has power over sickness and evil spirits.
Jesus cares about every person, whether young or old, healthy or sick.
Jesus listens when people pray or ask for help.
The demons knew who Jesus was, but Jesus chose when and how to show people that he was the Messiah.
Jesus loves to heal and help people, and his power is still strong today.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father,
We praise you because you are more powerful than any sickness or evil.
Please forgive us for the times we forget to ask you for help.
Thank you for the way Jesus healed the people and showed them your love.
Please help us to serve our families and friends with a kind heart.
Amen.