Luke 10:18

18 Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

Luke 10:18 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 10:18

And he said unto them
In order to abate their surprise, and reduce their transport of mind:

I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven;
meaning, that this was no news to him, nor any surprising event, that devils should be cast out of men, and be in a state of subjection; for as he existed as the eternal Son of God before his incarnation, he was present, and saw him and his angels fall from heaven, from their first estate, their habitation of bliss and glory, down to hell, upon their sin and rebellion, as violently, swiftly, and suddenly, as the lightning falls from heaven to earth; and when he sent out these his disciples, as soon as they began their work, and all along in it, he, by his divine omniscience, saw the powers of darkness falling before their ministry and miracles; and he also foresaw how Satan hereafter, in a more conspicuous manner, would fall before the preaching of his Gospel by his apostles, not only in Judea, but especially among the Gentiles, where he, the prince of this world, would be cast down from his throne, and out of his kingdom; so that what they related, as it was what he knew before, it was but little in comparison of what he himself had seen long ago, and of what he foresaw would be; and even he would give them power to do other miraculous works besides these.

Luke 10:18 In-Context

16 "The person who hears you hears me, and the person who rejects you rejects me. The person who rejects me rejects the one who sent me."

17 The 70 disciples came back very happy. They said, "Lord, even demons obey us when we use the power and authority of your name!"

18 Jesus said to them, "I watched Satan fall from heaven like lightning.

19 I have given you the authority to trample snakes and scorpions and to destroy the enemy's power. Nothing will hurt you.

20 However, don't be happy that evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven."