Luk 10:18-20 | NET2full | STEP | So he said to them , “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven .

Luke 10:18-20

18 So ^{▼▼tn Here δέ (de) has been translated as “so” to indicate that Jesus’ reply in vv. 18-20 follows from the positive report of the messengers in v. 17.} he said to them, “I saw ^{▼▼tn This is an imperfect tense verb.} Satan fall ^{▼▼tn In Greek, this is a participle and comes at the end of the verse, making it somewhat emphatic.} like lightning ^{▼▼tn This is probably best taken as allusion to Isa 14:12; the phrase in common is ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ (ek tou ouranou). These exorcisms in Jesus’ name are a picture of Satan’s greater defeat at Jesus’ hands (D. L. Bock, Luke [BECNT], 2:1006-7).} from heaven. 19 Look, I have given you authority to tread ^{▼▼tn Or perhaps, “trample on” (which emphasizes the impact of the feet on the snakes). See L&N 15.226.} on snakes and scorpions ^{▼▼sn Snakes and scorpions are examples of the hostility in the creation that is defeated by Jesus. The use of battle imagery shows who the kingdom fights against. See Acts 28:3-6.} and on the full force of the enemy, ^{▼▼tn Or “I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and [authority] over the full force of the enemy.” The second prepositional phrase can be taken either as modifying the infinitive πατεῖν (patein, “to tread”) or the noun ἐξουσίαν (exousian, “power”). The former is to be preferred and has been represented in the translation.} ^{▼▼sn The enemy is a reference to Satan (mentioned in v. 18).} and nothing will ^{▼▼tn This is an emphatic double negative in the Greek text.} hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice that ^{▼▼tn Grk “do not rejoice in this, that.” This is awkward in contemporary English and has been simplified to “do not rejoice that.”} the spirits submit to you, but rejoice ^{▼▼tn The verb here is a present imperative, so the call is to an attitude of rejoicing.} that your names stand written ^{▼▼tn The verb here, a perfect tense, stresses a present reality of that which was a completed action, that is, their names were etched in the heavenly stone, as it were.} in heaven.”