ELL Bible Study: Luke 4:42-44 — Jesus Preaches the Good News

This Bible study lesson is for people who are learning English (ELL or ESL students). It is made for advanced beginner and intermediate English learners. Children who speak English or adults who prefer easy English may also enjoy it and learn from it, although 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 4:42-44 Printable Discussion Questions

Lesson Icebreaker Question

Have you ever traveled to visit friends or family in a different town or city? What did you like about it?

Lesson Highlight

In this lesson, we will learn how Jesus taught people about the Kingdom of God. We will see that Jesus came to bring good news to everyone, not just one place.

Vocabulary Lists

Vocabulary List Using the ERV Bible Translation

Alone — Without anyone else.
Found — Past tense of find; discovered or saw where someone or something was.
God’s Kingdom — The rule or authority of God over the lives of people.
Goes — Travels or moves to a place.
Good News — The message about God’s love and how he saves people through Jesus.
Leaving — To be going away from a place.
Looked — Turned eyes toward something to see it.
Must — Something you have to do.
Next Day — The day after the last day mentioned.
Other — A different person or thing.
People — Men, women, and children.
Place — A space or area where something happens.
Said — Told someone something.
Sent — Made someone go to a place to do something.
Stop — To make something end or not continue.
Tell — To give information with words.
This Is Why — A phrase that explains the reason for an action.
Too — Also; in addition.
Town — A place where people live, smaller than a city.
Tried — Past tense of try; made an effort to do something.
Went — Traveled or moved from one place to another.

Vocabulary List Using the GNT Bible Translation

Daybreak — The time in the early morning when the sun starts to rise.
Found — Discovered or saw where someone or something was.
Good News — The message about God’s love and how he saves people through Jesus.
Keep From — To stop someone from doing something.
Kingdom Of God — God’s perfect place where he is King and everything is good and right. It is a real place in heaven, and it also lives in the hearts of people who love and follow him.
Left — To go away from a place.
Lonely — A place where no other people are.
Look — To use your eyes to find something.
Must — Something you have to do.
People — Men, women, and children.
Place — A space or area where something happens.
Preach — To teach people about God and his word.
Sent — Made someone go to a place to do something.
Started — Began to do something.
Synagogue — A place where Jewish people meet to pray and learn about God.
Town — A place where people live, smaller than a city.
Try — To make an effort to do something.

Summary of the Passage

This passage takes place after Jesus healed many people in a town. The next morning, while it was still early, Jesus left the town. He went to a quiet, lonely place by himself. He wanted to pray and rest. But the people missed him. They started looking for him. When they found him, they asked him to stay in their town.

Jesus loved the people, but he told them he could not stay. He explained that he needed to go to other towns to teach people about the Kingdom of God. This was the good news he came to share. God had sent Jesus to tell everyone about his love and his plan to save people.

So Jesus traveled to different places and preached in many synagogues. He wanted everyone to hear the good news. This passage teaches us that Jesus cares for all people and wants everyone to know about God’s love. It also shows us that sometimes we must leave a place or people we love to do what God calls us to do.

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.

Text from the ERV Bible Translation

Jesus Goes to Other Towns
42 The next day Jesus went to a place to be alone.
The people looked for him.
When they found him, they tried to stop him from leaving.
43 But he said to them,
“I must tell the Good News about God’s kingdom to other towns too.
This is why I was sent.”
44 Then Jesus told the Good News in the synagogues in Judea.
Luke 4:42-44 (ERV)

Text from the GNT Bible Translation

Jesus Preaches in the Synagogues
42 At daybreak Jesus left the town and went off to a lonely place. The people started looking for him, and when they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving.
43 But he said to them, “I must preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God in other towns also, because that is what God sent me to do.”
44 So he preached in the synagogues throughout the country.
Luke 4:42-44 (GNT)

Very Easy: Easy-To-Read Version: Luke 4:42-44 (ERV)
Very Easy: New International Reader’s Version: Luke 4:42-44 (NIRV)
Easy: Good News Translation: Luke 4:42-44 (GNT)
Medium: New Living Translation: Luke 4:42-44 (NLT)
Hard: New International Version: Luke 4:42-44 (NIV)
Very Hard: English Standard Version: Luke 4:42-44 (ESV)

Luke 4:42-44 Printable ERV Passage

Luke 4:42-44 Printable GNT Passage

Luke 4:42-44 Printable Discussion Questions

Comprehension Questions

When did Jesus leave the town?
Where did Jesus go?
What did the people do when they noticed Jesus was gone?
What did the people ask Jesus to do when they found him?
Why did Jesus say he needed to leave?
What message did Jesus want to preach?
Where did Jesus go to preach?
Who sent Jesus to share the good news?

Application Questions

Why do you think Jesus wanted to go to a quiet place alone?
Have you ever needed quiet time to rest or pray?
Why is it good to share good news with other people?
What is one way you can show God’s love to others this week?
How does it make you feel to know Jesus came to share good news with everyone, not just a few people?

Theological Insights

Jesus needed time alone to pray and be with God.
Jesus loves all people and wants everyone to hear the good news about the Kingdom of God.
God sent Jesus with a special job: to teach about his love and salvation.
Sometimes doing what God asks means leaving a place or people we love.
The Kingdom of God is for everyone, in every town and country.