This verse from the Gospel of Luke captures the growing fame of Jesus and the response of the people using intensifying adverbs, imperfect verbs, and purpose-driven infinitives. The full verse reads: διήρχετο δὲ μᾶλλον ὁ λόγος περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνήρχοντο ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀκούειν καὶ θεραπεύεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν from Luke 5:15. The Greek grammar expresses not just what happened, but how it spread — both linguistically and geographically — and why the crowds came.
The Greek Text in Focus
διήρχετο δὲ μᾶλλον ὁ λόγος περὶ αὐτοῦ, καὶ συνήρχοντο ὄχλοι πολλοὶ ἀκούειν καὶ θεραπεύεσθαι ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν (Luke 5:15)
“But the report about him was spreading all the more, and large crowds were gathering to hear and to be healed by him from their diseases.”
Grammatical Highlights
- διήρχετο — imperfect middle/passive indicative, third singular; “was going out / spreading.”
- μᾶλλον — comparative adverb; “more / increasingly.”
- ὁ λόγος περὶ αὐτοῦ — nominative subject with prepositional phrase; “the report concerning him.”
- συνήρχοντο — imperfect indicative middle, third plural; “they were coming together / gathering.”
- ὄχλοι πολλοί — nominative masculine plural; “many crowds,” subject of συνήρχοντο.
- ἀκούειν — present infinitive active; “to hear.”
- θεραπεύεσθαι — present infinitive passive; “to be healed.”
- ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ — preposition + genitive; “by him.”
- ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν — preposition + genitive; “from their diseases.”
Imperfects and the Power of Repetition
Both διήρχετο and συνήρχοντο are in the imperfect tense, expressing continuous or repeated action in the past. The report was not a one-time announcement — it was increasingly spreading (μᾶλλον). Likewise, the crowds were not gathering once, but kept coming. Greek imperfects help paint a picture of sustained motion and growing momentum.
Infinitives of Purpose: Why the Crowds Came
The infinitives ἀκούειν and θεραπεύεσθαι are coordinated to express the purpose of the crowd’s gathering: “to hear and to be healed.” Greek often uses present infinitives to describe general purposes or intentions. The passive form θεραπεύεσθαι underscores that healing was something received, not earned or manipulated.
Agent and Source: ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ and ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν
The prepositional phrase ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ (by him) marks Jesus as the agent of healing. The phrase ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν (from their sicknesses) describes the deliverance. The grammar preserves the theology: healing flows from him and delivers from real physical affliction. Greek syntax holds both source and result in one sentence.
| Word / Phrase | Form | Function | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| διήρχετο | Imperfect Middle, 3rd Singular | Main verb of report | Was spreading |
| μᾶλλον | Comparative Adverb | Modifies verb | More / increasingly |
| συνήρχοντο | Imperfect Middle, 3rd Plural | Main verb of crowd | Were gathering |
| ἀκούειν | Present Infinitive Active | Purpose of gathering | To hear |
| θεραπεύεσθαι | Present Infinitive Passive | Purpose of gathering | To be healed |
| ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ | Preposition + Genitive | Agent of healing | By him |
| ἀπὸ τῶν ἀσθενειῶν αὐτῶν | Preposition + Genitive | Source of affliction | From their sicknesses |
When Fame Leads to Faith
Luke 5:15 shows how grammar can carry both narrative and theology. The imperfects convey movement and multiplication. The infinitives show that the crowds came not for spectacle, but for Word and healing. The passive voice places Jesus as the source and agent. Greek doesn’t just report — it reveals a scene where the growing fame of Jesus becomes the pathway to personal faith and restoration.
