Luke Chapter 19 verse 17 Holy Bible
And he said unto him, Well done, thou good servant: because thou wast found faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
read chapter 19 in ASV
And he said to him, You have done well, O good servant: because you have done well in a small thing you will have authority over ten towns.
read chapter 19 in BBE
And he said to him, Well [done], thou good bondman; because thou hast been faithful in that which is least, be thou in authority over ten cities.
read chapter 19 in DARBY
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.
read chapter 19 in KJV
read chapter 19 in WBT
"He said to him, 'Well done, you good servant! Because you were found faithful with very little, you shall have authority over ten cities.'
read chapter 19 in WEB
and he said to him, Well done, good servant, because in a very little thou didst become faithful, be having authority over ten cities.
read chapter 19 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 17. - Well, thou good servant. It is noticeable that, in the bestowal of the "five cities" upon the servant who had with his one pound gained five, no expression of praise like this "good servant" is used by the King on his return. Now, what does this omission teach us? Christ, we know, was very careful and very sparing in his use of moral epithets. "Why callest thou me good?" was his stern address to the young ruler who used the expression, not because he was convinced of its applicability, but because he was desirous of paying a flattering compliment to the wise Rabbi from whom he desired information. We may safely conclude that, from the second servant in the story, the one who had earned but five pounds, he withheld the noble appellation "good" because he felt he had not deserved it. He had done well, it is true, and was splendidly recompensed, but he might have done more. He had won a high and responsible place in the kingdom; he was appointed the ruler over five cities; but he had not earned the noble title, ἄγαθος, "good." Very accurately, indeed, it seems, will places and names and power be awarded in the heaven-life, exactly in proportion to merits and deserts.
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) Because thou hast been faithful in a very little.--More literally, because thou didst become faithful. The words are in their substance like those in St. Matthew, but their absolute identity with those in the lesson drawn from the parable of the Unjust Steward (see Note on Luke 16:10) is every way suggestive. This parable is connected with that as its natural sequel and development.Have thou authority over ten cities.--The truth implied in Matthew 25:21 (where see Note), that the reward of faithfulness in this life, and probably in the life to come, will be found in yet wider opportunities for work in God's service, is stated here with greater distinctness. "Authority over ten cities" must have something corresponding to it, some energy and work of guidance, in the realities of the unseen world, and cannot simply be understood as fulfilled in the beatific vision or the life of ceaseless praise and adoration.
