Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son: An ESL Bible Study on Luke 7:11-17

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.

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Luke 7:11-17 Printable Discussion Questions

Luke 7:11-17 Printable ERV Passage

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Can you tell about a time when someone helped you when you were very sad or in trouble? How did it make you feel?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus showed kindness to a woman whose son had died. We will see how Jesus has power over life and death. We will talk about how Jesus cares for people who are hurting.

Vocabulary Lists for the ERV Bible Translation

Key Vocabulary Words (10 words)

coffin: (noun) A box that a dead person is put in.
crowd: (noun) A very large group of people.
dead body: (phrase) The physical part of a person that is no longer living.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
spread: (verb) To cover a larger area.
take care of: (phrase) To watch over and keep someone or something safe.
town gate: (phrase) A large door in a wall that people use to enter or leave a town.
travel: (verb) To go from one place to another.
widow: (noun) A woman whose husband has died.

Important Words to Know (20 words)

about: (preposition) Telling what a thing or person is like.
carry: (verb) To hold something and move it from one place to another.
coffin: (noun) A box that a dead person is put in.
crowd: (noun) A very large group of people.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
dead body: (phrase) The physical part of a person that is no longer living.
fear: (noun) The feeling of being afraid.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
gave back: (phrase) To return someone or something to the place or person they belong to.
get up: (phrase) To stand up after sitting or lying down.
news: (noun) Information about something that just happened.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
sorry: (adjective) Feeling sad about something that happened.
spread: (verb) To cover a larger area.
take care of: (phrase) To watch over and keep someone or something safe.
town gate: (phrase) A large door in a wall that people use to enter or leave a town.
travel: (verb) To go from one place to another.
widow: (noun) A woman whose husband has died.
young: (adjective) Not old.

Complete Lesson Word Bank

around: (preposition) In a circle or on all sides of something.
began: (verb) To have started something.
bring: (verb) To take someone or something to a place.
call: (verb) To give a name to someone or something.
came: (verb) To have moved toward a person or a place.
carry: (verb) To hold something and move it from one place to another.
coffin: (noun) A box that a dead person is put in.
crowd: (noun) A very large group of people.
cry: (verb) To have tears come from your eyes because you are sad.
dead body: (phrase) The physical part of a person that is no longer living.
everyone: (pronoun) Every person in a group.
fear: 1. (noun) The feeling of being afraid. 2. (verb) To show deep respect for the power of God.
felt: (verb) To have had a sensation in your body or an emotion in your heart.
fill: (verb) To put as much as possible into something.
follower: (noun) A person who learns from and obeys a teacher.
gave back: (phrase) To return someone or something to the place or person they belong to.
get up: (phrase) To stand up after sitting or lying down.
God: (noun) The creator and ruler of everything.
great: (adjective) Very large or very good.
Jesus: (noun) The Son of God and the Savior of the world!
Judea: (noun) The region in the south part of Israel.
life: (noun) The state of being alive.
Lord: (noun) A name that shows someone has power or authority.
many: (adjective) A large number of people or things.
Nain: (noun) A small town where Jesus brought a dead man back to life.
near: (adjective) Close to a place.
news: (noun) Information about something that just happened.
next day: (phrase) The day that comes after today or after a certain day.
only: (adjective) Just one and no more.
open: (adjective) Not closed.
other: (adjective) Different from the one already mentioned.
over: (preposition) To have power or authority across something.
place: (noun) A specific area, room, or location.
praise: (verb) To say very good things about God or a person.
prophet: (noun) A person who speaks messages from God.
sat: (verb) To have rested on a seat.
saw: (verb) To have looked at something with your eyes.
some: (adjective) An amount that is not specific.
sorry: (adjective) Feeling sad about something that happened.
spoke: (verb) To have said words out loud.
spread: (verb) To cover a larger area.
stop: (verb) To not move or to finish doing something.
take care of: (phrase) To watch over and keep someone or something safe.
talk: (verb) To speak to someone.
tell: (verb) To give information to someone by speaking.
touch: (verb) To put your hand or a finger on something.
town gate: (phrase) A large door in a wall that people use to enter or leave a town.
travel: (verb) To go from one place to another.
walk: (verb) To move by putting one foot in front of the other.
went: (verb) To have moved to another place.
widow: (noun) A woman whose husband has died.
young: (adjective) Not old.

Summary of the Passage

This passage tells about a time when Jesus went to a town called Nain. A large group of people was with him. As Jesus came near the town’s gate, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman whose husband had already died. Many people from the town were walking with her because she was very sad. At that time, women needed a husband or a son to work and provide money for food and a home. Because her husband and son were both dead, the woman was not just sad; she was also in danger of having nothing.

When Jesus saw the woman, he felt deep pity for her. He told her not to cry. Then Jesus went to the coffin and touched it. The people carrying the coffin stopped walking. Jesus spoke to the dead man and told him to get up. Right away, the man sat up and began to talk. Jesus gave him back to his mother, making her very happy.

The people who saw this miracle were very surprised and afraid. They began to praise God and said a great prophet was among them. They believed God had come to help his people. News about Jesus and what he did spread to the towns and places all around.

This passage teaches us that Jesus cares deeply about people who are hurting. It shows that Jesus has power over death and can give life. Jesus sees our pain and wants to bring hope and help to those in need.

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 Brings a Woman’s Son Back to Life
11 The next day Jesus and his followers went to a town called Nain.
A big crowd was traveling with them.
12 When Jesus came near the town gate, he saw some people carrying a dead body.
It was the only son of a woman who was a widow.
Walking with her were many other people from the town.
13 When the Lord saw the woman, he felt very sorry for her and said, “Don’t cry.”
14 He walked to the open coffin and touched it.
The men who were carrying the coffin stopped.
Jesus spoke to the dead son: “Young man, I tell you, get up!”
15 Then the boy sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.
16 Everyone was filled with fear.
They began praising God and said,
“A great prophet is here with us!” and
“God is taking care of his people.”
17 This news about Jesus spread all over Judea and to all the other places around there.
Luke 7:11-17 (ERV)

Very Easy: Easy-to-Read Version: Luke 7:11-17 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 7:11-17 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 7:11-17 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 7:11-17 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 7:11-17 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 7:11-17 (ESV)

Luke 7:11-17 Printable ERV Passage

Comprehension Questions

Where did Jesus go with his followers and a large crowd?
Who had died in the town of Nain?
What was special about the dead man’s mother?
How did Jesus feel when he saw the woman crying?
What did Jesus say to the woman?
What did Jesus do when he walked over to the coffin?
What happened when Jesus told the young man to get up?
How did the people feel when they saw this miracle?
What did the people say about Jesus after the young man was raised?
Where did the news about Jesus go after this miracle?

Application Questions

Have you ever seen someone who was very sad? What did you do?
Why do you think Jesus cared about the woman so much?
What does this story show us about Jesus’ love for hurting people?
How can we show care to others when they are going through hard times?
Who in your life needs hope or help right now?

Theological Insights

Jesus has power over life and death.
Jesus cares deeply for people who are sad and hurting.
Jesus shows kindness to people from every place and background.
When we trust in Jesus, we can have hope even in sad times.
God uses miracles to help people believe in him and see his love.

Closing Prayer

Dear Father, Thank you for showing us how much you care for people who are sad. Help us to trust you and remember that you are powerful and loving. Teach us to show kindness to others too. Amen.