ContradictionsReading order 161Bible context 3 min read
Did Jesus heal Peter's mother in law before or after calling Peter?
Luke narrates the healing of Simon's mother-in-law before his fishing call, reversing the order found in Matthew and Mark.
- Textual conflict
- Interpretive tension
- The passages pull in different directions, but the conflict depends on how their wording, scope, or narrative context is read.
- Importance
- Supporting
- A supporting event, teaching, or biographical claim.
Recognizable accounts place the same household healing on opposite sides of the fishermen's departure to follow Jesus.
An editorial assessment of the quoted passages. Importance describes the stakes; it does not increase certainty. Reading order weighs both.
Luke places the healing before Simon leaves to follow Jesus
And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
Luke 4:38-39
Translation / edition: King James Version (KJV)
Read the full chapter:Luke 4
And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him.