Luke says Jesus sees the widow and has compassion on her, telling her not to weep. He touches the bier and commands, “Young man, I say to you, arise,” and the dead man sits up and begins to speak. The crowd responds with fear and glorifies God, saying God has visited his people (Luke 7:13–16).
In Luke 7:11–17 Jesus arrives at Nain with a large crowd and meets another crowd leaving the town for a funeral. The dead man is a widow’s only son, highlighting her vulnerability and grief. Jesus is moved with compassion, stops the procession by touching the bier, and commands the young man to get up. This scene follows a series of public acts that display Jesus’s authority and draw increasing attention (for example, the healing of the centurion’s servant in Luke 7:1–10). Luke presents Jesus traveling, encountering need, and responding in ways that create community reaction.
Luke presents a public, concrete event: two crowds meet at the town gate, a widow’s only son has died, and Jesus intervenes. The story highlights the mother’s vulnerability (widow + only son) and Jesus’ compassion as the immediate motive (verse 13).
A careful answer keeps the immediate passage, the book's argument, and the whole-Bible storyline together, so the question is answered in context instead of as a detached idea.
Start with Luke 7:13-16, then read the surrounding section so the answer stays connected to the passage's flow.
13When the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said to her, "Don`t cry."
14He came near and touched the coffin, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I tell you, arise!"
15He who was dead sat up, and began to speak. He gave him to his mother.
16Fear took hold on all, and they glorified God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us," and, "God has visited his people."