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Selected Verse: Luke 10:18 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Lu 10:18	Strong Concordance	And [1161] he said [2036] unto them [846], I beheld [2334] Satan [4567] as [5613] lightning [796] fall [4098] from [1537] heaven [3772].
	King James	And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.

Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
I beheld--As much of the force of this glorious statement depends on the nice shade of sense indicated by the imperfect tense in the original, it should be brought out in the translation: "I was beholding Satan as lightning falling from heaven"; that is, "I followed you on your mission, and watched its triumphs; while you were wondering at the subjection to you of devils in My name, a grander spectacle was opening to My view; sudden as the darting of lightning from heaven to earth, lo! Satan was beheld falling from heaven!" How remarkable is this, that by that law of association which connects a part with the whole, those feeble triumphs of the Seventy seem to have not only brought vividly before the Redeemer the whole ultimate result of His mission, but compressed it into a moment and quickened it into the rapidity of lightning! Note.--The word rendered "devils," is always used for those spiritual agents employed in demoniacal possessions--never for the ordinary agency of Satan in rational men. When therefore the Seventy say, "the devils [demons] are subject to us," and Jesus replies, "Mine eye was beholding Satan falling," it is plain that He meant to raise their minds not only from the particular to the general, but from a very temporary form of satanic operation to the entire kingdom of evil. (See Joh 12:31; and compare Isa 14:12).

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

I beheld--As much of the force of this glorious statement depends on the nice shade of sense indicated by the imperfect tense in the original, it should be brought out in the translation: "I was beholding Satan as lightning falling from heaven"; that is, "I followed you on your mission, and watched its triumphs; while you were wondering at the subjection to you of devils in My name, a grander spectacle was opening to My view; sudden as the darting of lightning from heaven to earth, lo! Satan was beheld falling from heaven!" How remarkable is this, that by that law of association which connects a part with the whole, those feeble triumphs of the Seventy seem to have not only brought vividly before the Redeemer the whole ultimate result of His mission, but compressed it into a moment and quickened it into the rapidity of lightning! Note.--The word rendered "devils," is always used for those spiritual agents employed in demoniacal possessions--never for the ordinary agency of Satan in rational men. When therefore the Seventy say, "the devils [demons] are subject to us," and Jesus replies, "Mine eye was beholding Satan falling," it is plain that He meant to raise their minds not only from the particular to the general, but from a very temporary form of satanic operation to the entire kingdom of evil. (See Joh 12:31; and compare Isa 14:12).

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
I beheld Satan ... - "Satan" here denotes evidently the prince of the devils who had been cast out by the seventy disciples, for the discourse was respecting their power over evil spirits. "Lightning" is an image of "rapidity" or "quickness." I saw Satan fall "quickly" or rapidly - as quick as lightning. The phrase "from heaven" is to be referred to the lightning, and does not mean that he saw "Satan" fall "from heaven," but that he fell as quick as lightning from heaven or from the clouds. The whole expression then may mean, "I saw at your command devils immediately depart, as quick as the flash of lightning. I gave you this power - I saw it put forth - and I give also now, in addition to this, the power to tread on serpents," etc.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
I beheld (ἐθεώρουν) The verb denotes calm, intent, continuous contemplation of an object which remains before the spectator. So Joh 1:14, we beheld, implying that Jesus' stay upon earth, though brief, was such that his followers could calmly and leisurely contemplate his glory. Compare Joh 2:23 :" they beheld his miracles," thoughtfully and attentively. Here it denotes the rapt contemplation of a vision. The imperfect, was beholding, refers either to the time when the seventy were sent forth, or to the time of the triumphs which they are here relating. "While you were expelling the sub-ordinates, I was beholding the Master fall" (Godet). The Revisers do not seem to have had any settled principle in their rendering of this word throughout the New Testament. See my article on the Revised New Testament, Presbyterian Review, October, 1881, p. 646 sq. Satan A transcription of the Hebrew word, derived from a verb to lie in wait or oppose. Hence an adversary. In this sense, of David, Sa1 29:4, and of the angel who met Balaam, Num 22:22. Compare Zac 3:1, Zac 3:2; Job 1, Job 2:1-13. Διάβλος, devil, is the more common term in the New Testament. In Rev 12:9, both terms are applied to him. As lightning Describing vividly a dazzling brilliance suddenly quenched. Fall (πεσόντα) Lit., having fallen. The aorist marks the instantaneous fall, like lightning.

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
I beheld Satan - That is, when ye went forth, I saw the kingdom of Satan, which was highly exalted, swiftly and suddenly cast down.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
I beheld Satan - Or, Satan himself, τον Σαταναν, the very Satan, the supreme adversary, falling as lightning, with the utmost suddenness, as a flash of lightning falls from the clouds, and at the same time in the most observable manner. The fall was both very sudden and very apparent. Thus should the fall of the corrupt Jewish state be, and thus was the fall of idolatry in the Gentile world.

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¹² How art thou fallen [05307] from heaven [08064], O Lucifer [01966], son [01121] of the morning [07837] [03213] ! how art thou cut down [01438] to the ground [0776], which didst weaken [02522] the nations [01471]!

³¹ Now [3568] is [2076] the judgment [2920] of this [5127] world [2889]: now [3568] shall [1544] the prince [758] of this [5127] world [2889] be cast [1544] out [1854].

⁹ And [2532] the great [3173] dragon [1404] was cast out [906], that old [744] serpent [3789], called [2564] the Devil [1228], and [2532] Satan [4567], which [3588] deceiveth [4105] the whole [3650] world [3625]: he was cast out [906] into [1519] the earth [1093], and [2532] his [846] angels [32] were cast out [906] with [3326] him [846].

¹ Again there was a day [03117] when the sons [01121] of God [0430] came [0935] to present [03320] themselves before the LORD [03068], and Satan [07854] came [0935] also among [08432] them to present [03320] himself before the LORD [03068].
² And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Satan [07854], From whence [0335] comest [0935] thou? And Satan [07854] answered [06030] the LORD [03068], and said [0559], From going to and fro [07751] in the earth [0776], and from walking up and down [01980] in it.
³ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Satan [07854], Hast thou [07760] considered [03820] my servant [05650] Job [0347], that there is none like him in the earth [0776], a perfect [08535] and an upright [03477] man [0376], one that feareth [03373] God [0430], and escheweth [05493] evil [07451]? and still he holdeth fast [02388] his integrity [08538], although thou movedst [05496] me against him, to destroy [01104] him without cause [02600].
⁴ And Satan [07854] answered [06030] the LORD [03068], and said [0559], Skin [05785] for skin [05785], yea, all that a man [0376] hath will he give [05414] for his life [05315].
⁵ But [0199] put forth [07971] thine hand [03027] now, and touch [05060] his bone [06106] and his flesh [01320], and he will curse [01288] thee to thy face [06440].
⁶ And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Satan [07854], Behold, he is in thine hand [03027]; but save [08104] his life [05315].
⁷ So went [03318] Satan [07854] forth [03318] from the presence [06440] of the LORD [03068], and smote [05221] Job [0347] with sore [07451] boils [07822] from the sole [03709] of his foot [07272] unto his crown [06936].
⁸ And he took [03947] him a potsherd [02789] to scrape [01623] himself withal; and he sat down [03427] among [08432] the ashes [0665].
⁹ Then said [0559] his wife [0802] unto him, Dost thou still retain [02388] thine integrity [08538]? curse [01288] God [0430], and die [04191].
¹⁰ But he said [0559] unto her, Thou speakest [01696] as one [0259] of the foolish women [05036] speaketh [01696]. What [01571]? shall we receive [06901] good [02896] at the hand of God [0430], and shall we not receive [06901] evil [07451]? In all this did not Job [0347] sin [02398] with his lips [08193].
¹¹ Now when Job's [0347] three [07969] friends [07453] heard [08085] of all this evil [07451] that was come [0935] upon him, they came [0935] every one [0376] from his own place [04725]; Eliphaz [0464] the Temanite [08489], and Bildad [01085] the Shuhite [07747], and Zophar [06691] the Naamathite [05284]: for they had made an appointment [03259] together [03162] to come [0935] to mourn [05110] with him and to comfort [05162] him.
¹² And when they lifted up [05375] their eyes [05869] afar off [07350], and knew [05234] him not, they lifted up [05375] their voice [06963], and wept [01058]; and they rent [07167] every one [0376] his mantle [04598], and sprinkled [02236] dust [06083] upon their heads [07218] toward heaven [08064].
¹³ So they sat down [03427] with him upon the ground [0776] seven [07651] days [03117] and seven [07651] nights [03915], and none spake [01696] a word [01697] unto him: for they saw [07200] that his grief [03511] was very [03966] great [01431].

² And the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto Satan [07854], The LORD [03068] rebuke [01605] thee, O Satan [07854]; even the LORD [03068] that hath chosen [0977] Jerusalem [03389] rebuke [01605] thee: is not this a brand [0181] plucked [05337] out of the fire [0784]?

¹ And he shewed [07200] me Joshua [03091] the high [01419] priest [03548] standing [05975] before [06440] the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068], and Satan [07854] standing [05975] at his right hand [03225] to resist [07853] him.

²² And God's [0430] anger [0639] was kindled [02734] because he went [01980]: and the angel [04397] of the LORD [03068] stood [03320] in the way [01870] for an adversary [07854] against him. Now he was riding [07392] upon his ass [0860], and his two [08147] servants [05288] were with him.

⁴ And the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430] were wroth [07107] with him; and the princes [08269] of the Philistines [06430] said [0559] unto him, Make [07725] this fellow [0376] return [07725], that he may go again [07725] to his place [04725] which thou hast appointed [06485] him, and let him not go down [03381] with us to battle [04421], lest in the battle [04421] he be an adversary [07854] to us: for wherewith should he reconcile [07521] himself unto his master [0113]? should it not be with the heads [07218] of these men [0582]?

²³ Now [1161] when [5613] he was [2258] in [1722] Jerusalem [2414] at [1722] the passover [3957], in [1722] the feast [1859] day, many [4183] believed [4100] in [1519] his [846] name [3686], when they saw [2334] the miracles [846] [4592] which [3739] he did [4160].

¹⁴ And [2532] the Word [3056] was made [1096] flesh [4561], and [2532] dwelt [4637] among [1722] us [2254], (and [2532] we beheld [2300] his [846] glory [1391], the glory [1391] as [5613] of the only begotten [3439] of [3844] the Father [3962],) full [4134] of grace [5485] and [2532] truth [225].