46 But Jesus said, "Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me."
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
I perceive that virtue - Δυναμιν, Divine or miraculous power. This Divine emanation did not proceed always from Christ, as necessarily as odours do from plants, for then all who touched him must have been equally partakers of it. Of the many that touched him, this woman and none else received this Divine virtue; and why? Because she came in faith. Faith alone attracts and receives the energetic influence of God at all times. There would be more miracles, at least of spiritual healing, were there more faith among those who are called believers.
And Jesus said, somebody hath touched me,.... Not in a common and accidental way, but with design, and in the strength of faith:
for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me: for the cure of the person that had touched him, and that not without his knowledge and will; See Gill on Luke 6:19.
Somebody hath touched--yes, the multitude "thronged" and pressed Him--"they jostled against Him," but all involuntarily; they were merely carried along; but one, one only--"Somebody TOUCHED" HIM, with the conscious, voluntary, dependent touch of faith, reaching forth its hands expressly to have contact with Him. This and this only Jesus acknowledges and seeks out. Even so, as the Church Father AUGUSTINE long ago said, multitudes still come similarly close to Christ in the means of grace, but all to no purpose, being only sucked into the crowd. The voluntary, living contact of faith is that electric conductor which alone draws virtue out of Him.
*More commentary available at chapter level.