Epistates is a direct address to Jesus in requests, reports, and urgent appeals.

The attested use is a singular masculine vocative address directed to Jesus, occurring in requests for help, obedience to his word, urgent danger, explanatory replies, and reports of events.

1. Direct address to Jesus · dominant

   In every occurrence the form is a singular masculine vocative, addressing Jesus within a spoken appeal or report. In Luke 5:5 the speaker responds to Jesus' word about letting down nets; in Luke 17:13 the speakers appeal for pity; in Luke 8:24 the address is repeated as the speakers say they are perishing. The same address introduces Peter's explanation in Luke 8:45 and Luke 9:33 and John's report in Luke 9:49.

   Luke 17:13Luke 5:5Luke 8:24Luke 8:45Luke 9:33Luke 9:49

In the Anselm Project Bible: Across the supplied verses, the APB presents the vocative with "Master," including the doubled "Master, master" in Luke 8:24. This consistently fits the direct-address setting, though the translation does not itself provide word-level alignment.