Charles Ellicott Commentary Luke 5:12-16

"And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou made clean. And straightway the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. But so much the more went abroad the report concerning him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed of their infirmities. But he withdrew himself in the deserts, and prayed." — Luke 5:12-16 (ASV)

A man full of leprosy.—See Notes on Matthew 8:2-4. The precise description is peculiar to, and characteristic of, Saint Luke, as is also the man’s “falling on his face.” The latter is interesting as explaining the more general “worshipping” of Saint Mark.

So much the more.—The statement agrees with Saint Mark, Saint Matthew closing his account with the command given to the leper. Both the verbs, “went” and “came together,” are in the tense that implies continuous action.

He withdrew himself into the wilderness.—Literally, into the wildernesses, agreeing with Saint Mark’s “in desert places,” now in one part, now in another, of the unenclosed, uncultivated country. The addition that he “was praying” there is peculiar to Saint Luke, who, throughout his Gospel, lays stress on this feature in our Lord’s life. (See Introduction.)