Back to Today
Luke 9:23
He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.
Permalink Verse page
Interpretation

Jesus teaches a daily cross that is embodied in relationships and commitments. Luke 9:23: trace "said" and "anyone". Let daily cross in promises we keep—steady the will with prayer.

Context

The setting is Luke—gospel narrative, naming daily cross. Placed in ch. 9, the nearby lines set its tone. The nearby sentences supply the texture.

Authorship & Historical Background

Long‑standing tradition credits Luke to Luke the physician (companion of Paul). A common scholarly view of Luke: Anonymous; author also wrote Acts; polished Greek historian‑theologian.. Scholars commonly date Luke AD 80–90. Recipients in mind: Broader Greco‑Roman audience.. A careful narrative for a wide audience. A careful historian-theologian frames a universal horizon.

More details
Traditional:Luke the physician (companion of Paul)
Modern scholarship:Anonymous; author also wrote Acts; polished Greek historian‑theologian.
Date:AD 80–90
Audience:Broader Greco‑Roman audience.
Manuscripts & Textual Witnesses
The Greek text is preserved in thousands of manuscripts. Early papyri (P46, P66, P75) from the 2nd-3rd centuries, along with major uncials like Sinaiticus and Vaticanus (4th century), provide strong textual witness. Minor variants exist but do not alter the main meaning.
Sources & witness notes
SinaiticusVaticanusP46