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PER210
The reaction of James and John
During Jesus’ journey through Samaria, James and John, the “sons of thunder,” propose calling down fire from heaven on a hostile Samaritan village. Jesus sternly rebukes them, reminding them that he came to save people, not to destroy them. This episode, reported only by Luke (Lk 9.54-56), illustrates the Jewish-Samaritan tensions and the gradual formation of the disciples toward a spirit of mercy.
2 Kings 1.9-12 (King James Version) :Then the king sent unto him a captain of fifty with his fifty. And he went up to him: and, behold, he sat on the top of an hill. And he spake unto him, Thou man of God, the king hath said, Come down.And Elijah answered and said to the captain of fifty, If I be a man of God, then let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.Again also he sent unto him another captain of fifty with his fifty. And he answered and said unto him, O man of God, thus hath the king said, Come down quickly.And Elijah answered and said unto them, If I be a man of God, let fire come down from heaven, and consume thee and thy fifty. And the fire of God came down from heaven, and consumed him and his fifty.King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org