οἱ ὄχλοι : no particular multitude is meant, but just the crowds that were wont to gather around Jesus. In Mt. and Mk. Jesus appears as endeavouring (in vain) to escape from the people. In Lk. this feature is not prominent. Even the expression τόπον ἔρημον in Luke 9:10 is probably not genuine. What Lk. appears to have written is that Jesus withdrew privately into a city called Bethsaida. ἀποδεξάμενος, the more probable reading, implies a willing reception or the multitude. Vide Luke 8:40.

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Old Testament