Church Fathers Commentary Luke 4:40-41

"And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. And demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, Thou art the Son of God. And rebuking them, he suffered them not to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ." — Luke 4:40-41 (ASV)

Theophylact of Ohrid: We must observe the zeal of the multitude, who bring their sick to Him after the sun had set, not deterred by the lateness of the day. As it is said, Now when the sun was setting, they brought their sick.

Origen of Alexandria: It was ordered that they should bring them out around sunset—that is, when the day was gone—either because they were busy with other things during the day, or because they thought it was not lawful to heal on the Sabbath. But He healed them, as it follows: But he laid his hands upon every one of them.

St. Cyril of Alexandria: Although as God He was able to drive away diseases by His word, He nevertheless touches them, showing that His flesh was powerful to apply remedies, since it was the flesh of God. For as fire, when applied to a bronze vessel, imprints on it the effect of its own heat, so the omnipotent Word of God, by uniting to Himself in a real assumption a living temple from the virgin, endowed with understanding, implanted in it a share of His own power.

May He also touch us—or rather, may we touch Him—that He may deliver us from the infirmities of our souls, as well as from the assaults of the evil spirit and pride. For it follows, And devils also came out.

The Venerable Bede: The devils confess the Son of God, and as it is said later, they knew him to be Christ. For when the devil saw Him distressed by fasting, he perceived Him to be truly man. But when he did not prevail in his trial, he doubted whether He was the Son of God. Now, however, by the power of Christ’s miracles, he either perceived or suspected Him to be the Son of God.

He did not then persuade the Jews to crucify Him because he thought He was not the Christ or the Son of God, but because he did not foresee that he himself would be condemned by this death. Of this mystery hidden from the world, the Apostle says that none of the princes of this world knew, for if they had known they would never have crucified the Lord of Glory.

St. John Chrysostom: In what follows, And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak, observe the humility of Christ, who would not let the unclean spirits make Him known. For it was not fitting that they should usurp the glory of the apostolic office, nor was it proper for the mysteries of Christ to be proclaimed by impure tongues.

Theophylact of Ohrid: This was because, praise is not seemly in the mouth of a sinner. Or, it was because He did not wish to inflame the envy of the Jews by being praised by all.

The Venerable Bede: But the Apostles themselves were commanded to be silent concerning Him, so that proclaiming His divine majesty would not delay the appointed plan for His Passion.