18 Miracles in the Gospel of Luke
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why Luke chose these miracles to include in the Gospel? Unlike a mere list of wonders, each act reveals a facet of Jesus’ divine authority and compassion—healing not just bodies, but broken hearts and societal outcasts.
Luke, the careful historian and physician, records miracles no other Gospel mentions: 1) a severed ear restored (22:51), 2) a widow’s son raised (7:11-17), and 3) a demon-possessed man freed (8:26-39). These aren’t just power displays; they are invitations to faith.
Which Gospel has the Most Miracles?
| Gospel | Total Miracles | Unique Miracles |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew | 20 |
• Coin in fish's mouth (17:24-27) • Two blind men healed (9:27-31) • Temple tax miracle |
| Mark | 18 |
• Healing a deaf-mute (7:31-37) • Blind man healed in stages (8:22-26) • Young man at Gethsemane (14:51-52) |
| Luke | 18 |
• Healing Malchus' ear (22:50-51) • Raising widow's son at Nain (7:11-17) • 10 lepers healed (17:11-19) |
| John | 7 |
• Water to wine (2:1-11) • Official's son healed remotely (4:46-54) • Man born blind (9:1-41) |
Key Insight: While Matthew records the most miracles, each Gospel preserves unique events that reveal different aspects of Jesus' ministry. Luke emphasizes compassion for outcasts, John focuses on symbolic "signs," while Matthew and Mark highlight Jesus' authority.
A list of Jesus’ miracles in the Gospel of Luke:
1. The Healing of the Man with an Unclean Demon – Luke 4:31-37
2. Healing Simon Peter’s Mother-in-Law – Luke 4:38-39
3. Healing Many Sick and Demon Possessed – Luke 4:40-41
4. Healing a Man with Leprosy – Luke 5:12-16
5. Healing a Paralytic Man – Luke 5:17-26
6. Healing a Man with a Withered Hand – Luke 6:6-11
7. Raising a Widow’s Son at Nain – Luke 7:11-17
8. Calming the Storm – Luke 8:22-25
9. Healing the Gerasene Demoniac – Luke 8:26-39
10. Healing a Woman with a Hemorrhage – Luke 8:43-48
11. Raising Jairus’ Daughter – Luke 8:40-42, 49-56
12. Feeding the Five Thousand – Luke 9:10-17
13. Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit – Luke 9:37-43
14. Healing a Woman with a Disabling Spirit – Luke 13:10-17
15. Healing a Man with Dropsy – Luke 14:1-6
16. Healing Ten Lepers – Luke 17:11-19
17. Healing Blind Bartimaeus – Luke 18:35-43
18. Healing Malchus’ Ear – Luke 22:47-51Frequently Asked Questions about Luke Miracles
What is the significance of the miracles in Luke?
Luke’s miracles reveal Jesus’ compassion and divine authority, highlighting His care for both physical healing and social restoration.
How many miracles are recorded in the Gospel of Luke?
There are 18 miracles recorded uniquely in Luke, showcasing different aspects of Jesus’ ministry.
Why does Luke include miracles not found in other Gospels?
Luke focuses on miracles that emphasize Jesus’ compassion toward outcasts and marginalized people, complementing the other Gospels’ perspectives.
Jesus’s ministry explodes on the scene - healing people, rectifying tragedy, and giving hope.
1. The Healing of the Man with an Unclean Demon: Luke 4:31-37
Summary:
Jesus silences and expels a demon in Capernaum’s synagogue, revealing His authority over evil and stunning the crowd.
Key Points:
Setting: On the Sabbath, Jesus teaches with unmatched authority (vv. 31-32).
Conflict: A demon interrupts, recognizing Jesus as “the Holy One of God” (vv. 33-34).
Power: Jesus rebukes it with a word—no rituals, just raw divine command (v. 35).
Result: The crowd marvels; news spreads (vv. 36-37).
Why It Matters:
Demons know Jesus’ identity but don’t submit (James 2:19). True faith requires surrender.
Jesus’ authority extends even to Satan’s domain (1 John 3:8).
2. Healing Simon Peter's Mother-in-Law: Luke 4:38-39
Summary:
Jesus instantly heals a woman’s fever, restoring her to service—revealing His power over sickness and care for everyday needs.
Key Points:
Setting: After synagogue, Jesus enters Peter’s home, showing ministry in private spaces (v. 38).
Action: He rebukes the fever like a demon—no prayer, just command (v. 39a).
Result: She’s instantly healed and serves them, proving full restoration (v. 39b).
Why It Matters:
Jesus values women and domestic spaces (countercultural for rabbis).
Healing isn’t just for show—it fuels service (1 Peter 4:10).
3. Healing Many Sick and Demon-Possessed: Luke 4:40-41
Summary:
As Sabbath ends, Jesus heals crowds with a touch and silences demons who recognize Him - revealing both His compassion and controlled revelation of Messiahship.
Key Points:
Timing: Heals after Sabbath (v.40), honoring Jewish law while meeting needs
Method: Personal touch for each healing (no mass production)
Conflict: Silences demonic testimonies (v.41) to control His Messianic revelation
Irony: Demons proclaim truth but are powerless before it
Why It Matters:
Jesus meets both physical and spiritual needs
True healing comes through submission, not just recognition (James 2:19)
God's power is never careless - even miracles have purpose.
Leprosy includes many skin diseases, but whatever the case, it meant isolation from one’s community.
4. Healing a Man with Leprosy: Luke 5:12-16
Summary:
Jesus touches and instantly heals an outcast leper, then commands him to show the priests - demonstrating both radical compassion and respect for God's law.
Key Points:
The Ask: "If you're willing..." (v.12) - humble faith from a social outcast
The Touch: Jesus breaks taboos by contacting the "unclean" (v.13)
The Command: "Tell no one...show the priests" (v.14) - prioritizes restoration over fame
The Irony: News spreads despite Jesus' instructions (vv.15-16)
Why It Matters:
God's power flows through willing hands (Mark 1:41)
True healing restores both body and community
Even miracles must submit to God's order
5. Healing a Paralytic Man: Luke 5:17-26
Summary:
Jesus forgives and heals a paralyzed man lowered through a roof, proving His authority over sin and sickness to skeptical religious leaders.
Key Points:
Obstacle: Crowds block access, but friends break through barriers (vv.18-19).
Priority: Jesus forgives sins first (v.20), angering Pharisees (v.21).
Proof: Healing the body validates power to heal the soul (vv.22-25).
Result: Crowd praises God, stunned by "remarkable things" (v.26).
Why It Matters:
True faith persists through obstacles (Hebrews 11:6).
Physical healing points to greater spiritual restoration.
Jesus’ authority demands a response – awe or rejection.
6. Healing a Man with a Withered Hand: Luke 6:6-11
Summary:
Jesus publicly heals a disabled man on the Sabbath, confronting religious hypocrisy with a bold question about true obedience.
Key Points:
Setting: Synagogue Sabbath service with hostile observers (v.6-7)
Challenge: "Is it lawful to do good on Sabbath?" (v.9) - reframes religious debate
Miracle: Simple command ("Stretch out your hand") brings instant healing (v.10)
Backlash: Pharisees respond with fury, not wonder (v.11)
Why It Matters:
True worship prioritizes compassion over rules (Hosea 6:6)
Jesus' authority exposes hardened hearts
God's power works through simple obedience ("Stretch...")
Jesus brought hope to where hope was long gone - especially in Nain.
7. Raising a Widow's Son at Nain: Luke 7:11-17
Summary:
Jesus interrupts a funeral procession, resurrecting a widow’s only son—revealing His power over death and deep compassion for the brokenhearted.
Key Points:
Tragedy: A widow loses her only son (social/financial ruin) (v.12)
Compassion: Jesus’ "heart went out to her" before acting (v.13)
Command: "Get up!"—death obeys Christ’s voice (vv.14-15)
Result: Crowd declares, "God has come to help!" (v.16)
Why It Matters:
Jesus cares about personal grief (Psalm 34:18)
His power brings tangible restoration (not just spiritual)
True ministry interrupts suffering.
8. Calming the Storm: Luke 8:22-25
Summary:
Jesus sleeps through a deadly storm, then silences it with a word—revealing His absolute authority over creation and calling for deeper faith.
Key Points:
Setup: Jesus chooses the storm ("Let’s go to the other side") (v.22)
Crisis: Disciples panic while Christ rests (v.23-24a)
Command: He rebukes wind/waves like demons ("Silence!") (v.24b)
Question: "Where is your faith?" cuts deeper than the storm (v.25a)
Awe: Disciples marvel—"Who is this?" (v.25b)
Why It Matters:
Storms reveal what we truly believe
Peace isn’t the absence of chaos, but Christ’s presence in it
Nature obeys Him—so why don’t we?
Jesus calmed the storm and it’s such a magnificent image of all the turmoil we often face. If that’s you, I pray that Christ would bring peace to your tumult.
9. Healing the Gerasene Demoniac: Luke 8:26-39
Summary:
Jesus liberates a violent outcast from a legion of demons—revealing His absolute authority over evil and His heart for the broken.
Key Points:
The Man: Naked, living in tombs, uncontrollable (v.27)
The Demons: Recognize Jesus ("Son of the Most High God!"), beg for mercy (vv.28-31)
The Miracle: Jesus casts them into pigs—showing their destructive nature (vv.32-33)
The Aftermath: Man is "sitting, clothed, in his right mind"—a walking testimony (v.35)
Why It Matters:
No one is too far gone for Jesus’ power
True freedom comes through surrender (the man begs to follow Jesus, v.38)
Sometimes deliverance is messy (pigs drown) but worth it.
10. Healing a Woman with a Hemorrhage: Luke 8:43-48
Summary:
A desperate woman, shunned for 12 years, touches Jesus’ cloak—and is healed instantly. Jesus stops the crowd to honor her faith.
Key Points:
Her Suffering: 12 years of bleeding = social/religious outcast (v.43)
Her Faith: "If I just touch His cloak..." (v.44)
His Response: "Power has gone out from Me" (v.46)
His Affirmation: "Daughter, your faith has healed you" (v.48)
Why It Matters:
Faith isn’t about boldness but desperation
Jesus stops for the unseen—no one is invisible to Him
True healing includes dignity ("Daughter") and peace.
11. Raising Jairus' Daughter: Luke 8:49-56
Summary:
After declaring a dead girl "asleep," Jesus takes her by the hand and resurrects her—proving His authority over death and His tender care for broken hearts.
Key Moments:
Devastating News: "Your daughter is dead" (v.49)
Jesus’ Response: "Don’t be afraid; just believe" (v.50)
Miraculous Command: "My child, get up!" (v.55)
Practical Care: "Give her something to eat" (v.55)
Why It Matters:
Death is not final to Jesus—just "sleep" (John 11:11)
Faith often requires trusting beyond visible hope
True power is paired with compassion (He feeds her!)
12. Feeding the Five Thousand: Luke 9:10-17
Summary:
With just five loaves and two fish, Jesus feeds a massive crowd—revealing God’s abundance when we offer what little we have.
Key Moments:
The Need: A hungry crowd in a remote place (v.12)
The Offer: "You give them something to eat" (v.13) – Jesus invites participation
The Miracle: Bread multiplies as He blesses it (vv.16-17)
The Leftovers: 12 baskets remain—showing God’s extravagant provision
Why It Matters:
God doesn’t need much—just our willingness
Jesus meets physical needs while teaching spiritual truth
There’s always more than enough in His hands
In our abundance, we often take for granted the daily bread we need to survive. Jesus Christ said he was “bread from heaven” who feeds us. May be never take him for granted.
13. Healing a Boy with an Unclean Spirit: Luke 9:37-43
Summary:
After His transfiguration, Jesus delivers a boy from a violent demon—revealing His absolute authority where His disciples had failed.
Key Moments:
The Father’s Plea: "He is my only child!" (v.38)
The Disciples’ Failure: They couldn’t cast it out (v.40)
Jesus’ Rebuke: "Unbelieving generation!" (v.41)
The Miracle: One command—boy freed (v.42)
Why It Matters:
Some battles require prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29)
Jesus meets desperation with power
No case is too hopeless for him.
14. Healing a Woman with a Disabling Spirit: Luke 13:10-17
Summary:
On the Sabbath, Jesus liberates a woman bent double for 18 years—sparking outrage from religious leaders but joy from the crowd.
Key Moments:
The Suffering: 18 years disabled by a spirit (v.11)
The Miracle: "Woman, you are set free!" (v.12) → immediatelyshe stands (v.13)
The Controversy: Leaders protest Sabbath healing (v.14)
Jesus’ Rebuke: "You untie your donkey—shouldn’t she be freed?" (vv.15-16)
Why It Matters:
Jesus prioritizes people over rules
Satan binds—but Christ breaks chains
True worship brings freedom, not restriction
15. Healing a Man with Dropsy: Luke 14:1-6
Summary:
At a Pharisee’s Sabbath meal, Jesus heals a man with severe swelling—turning a setup into a lesson on compassion over legalism.
Key Moments:
The Trap: Pharisees watch closely as a sick man is placed before Jesus (v.2)
The Question: "Is it lawful to heal on Sabbath?" (v.3) → silence (v.4)
The Miracle: Jesus heals him anyway (v.4)
The Point: "You'd rescue a donkey on Sabbath!" (v.5)
Why It Matters:
Religion often watches—but Jesus acts
True obedience serves people, not rules
God’s heart beats for the suffering, not the self-righteous.
16. Healing Ten Lepers: Luke 17:11-19
Summary:
Ten lepers cry for mercy—all are healed, but only one (a Samaritan) returns to thank Jesus, revealing a shocking truth about gratitude.
Key Moments:
The Cry: "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!" (v.13)
The Healing: Obeying Jesus’ command, "they were cleansed"(v.14)
The Shock: Only the outsider returns to praise God (v.16)
The Lesson: "Your faith has made you well" (v.19) —physical healing vs. whole restoration
Why It Matters:
God’s mercy is for all—but few truly thank Him
Faith isn’t just about receiving but responding
The most broken often have the deepest gratitude
17. Healing Blind Bartimaeus: Luke 18:35-43
Summary:
A desperate beggar’s persistent faith stops Jesus in His tracks—and restores his sight with just a word.
Key Moments:
The Cry: "Son of David, have mercy!" (v.38) → the crowd tries to silence him (v.39)
The Question: "What do you want?" (v.41) → "Lord, I want to see!"
The Miracle: "Your faith has healed you" (v.42) → sight instantly restored
The Response: He follows Jesus, praising God (v.43)
Why It Matters:
True faith persists despite opposition
Jesus stops for the desperate
Healing isn’t the end—it’s the beginning of following Christ
18. Healing Malchus' Ear: Luke 22:49-51
Summary:
In the chaos of His arrest, Jesus performs His final miracle—healing the ear of the very man sent to seize Him.
Key Moments:
The Violence: Peter strikes, cutting off Malchus’ ear (v.50)
The Mercy: "No more of this!" → Jesus touches and heals(v.51)
The Irony: The healed man still arrests his Healer
Why It Matters:
Even in suffering, Jesus heals His enemies (Isaiah 53:5)
True power restrains violence—returns good for evil
Grace doesn’t guarantee repentance (the crowd still crucifies him)
