The Meaning of Luke 22:52 Explained

Luke 22:52

KJV: Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves?

YLT: And Jesus said to those having come upon him -- chief priests, and magistrates of the temple, and elders -- 'As upon a robber have ye come forth, with swords and sticks?

Darby: And Jesus said to the chief priests and captains of the temple and elders, who were come against him, Have ye come out as against a robber with swords and sticks?

ASV: And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  Jesus  said  unto  the chief priests,  and  captains  of the temple,  and  the elders,  which were come  to  him,  Be ye come out,  as  against  a thief,  with  swords  and  staves? 

What does Luke 22:52 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 22:47-53 - "the Power Of Darkness"
It may have been about midnight when the lights and movement of feet indicated the approach of Judas and his band. The kiss of Judas was probably intended to hide his treachery from his fellow-disciples; but it did not deceive his Master, who even in that sad hour sought to touch his heart, Luke 22:48.
When Malchus' ear was almost severed from the body, it was needful that our Lord should interpose, because, if Peter had been arrested, the gaze of mankind would have been diverted from the spectacle of Christ's atonement, and a struggle might have ensued at the gate of the garden which would have justified the worst accusations of the high priest.
The quiet remonstrance with which the Lord met that ruffian band, reminding them of their cowardice in the daylight and amid the crowds, was followed by His submission to be led "as a lamb to the slaughter." [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 22

1  The leaders conspire against Jesus
3  Satan prepares Judas to betray him
7  The apostles prepare the Passover
19  Jesus institutes his holy supper;
21  covertly foretells of the traitor;
24  rebukes the rest of his apostles from ambition;
31  assures Peter his faith should not fail;
34  and yet he should deny him thrice
39  He prays in the mount, and sweats blood;
47  is betrayed with a kiss;
50  he heals Malchus' ear;
54  he is thrice denied by Peter;
63  shamefully abused;
66  and confesses himself to be the Son of God

Greek Commentary for Luke 22:52

As against a robber? [ως επι ληιστην]
They were treating Jesus as if he were a bandit like Barabbas. [source]
Thief [λῃστὴν]
See on Matthew 26:55; and Luke 10:30; sa40" translation="">Mark 11:17.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:52

Matthew 26:47 Let us go [αγωμεν]
The very horror of the thing is thus emphasized, that one of the chosen twelve apostles should do this dastardly deed.A great multitude (οχλος πολυς — ochlos polus). The chief priests and Pharisees had furnished Judas a band of soldiers from the garrison in Antonia (John 18:3) and the temple police (Luke 22:52) with swords (knives) and staves (clubs) with a hired rabble who had lanterns also (John 18:3) in spite of the full moon. Judas was taking no chances of failure for he well knew the strange power of Jesus. [source]
Matthew 26:47 A great multitude [οχλος πολυς]
The chief priests and Pharisees had furnished Judas a band of soldiers from the garrison in Antonia (John 18:3) and the temple police (Luke 22:52) with swords (knives) and staves (clubs) with a hired rabble who had lanterns also (John 18:3) in spite of the full moon. Judas was taking no chances of failure for he well knew the strange power of Jesus. [source]
Luke 22:4 Captains [στρατηγοις]
Leaders of the temple guards (Acts 4:1), the full title, “captains of the temple,” occurs in Luke 22:52.How he might deliver him unto them (το πως αυτοις παραδωι αυτον — to pōs autois paradōi auton). The same construction as in Luke 22:2, the article το — to with the indirect question and deliberative subjunctive second aorist active (παραδωι — paradōi). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:52 mean?

Said then Jesus to those having come out against Him chief priests and captains of the temple elders As against a robber have you come out with swords clubs
Εἶπεν δὲ Ἰησοῦς πρὸς τοὺς παραγενομένους ἐπ’ αὐτὸν ἀρχιερεῖς καὶ στρατηγοὺς τοῦ ἱεροῦ πρεσβυτέρους Ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε μετὰ μαχαιρῶν ξύλων

Εἶπεν  Said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
τοὺς  those 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραγενομένους  having  come  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Middle, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: παραγίνομαι  
Sense: to be present, to come near, approach.
ἐπ’  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
ἀρχιερεῖς  chief  priests 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιερεύς  
Sense: chief priest, high priest.
στρατηγοὺς  captains 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: στρατηγός  
Sense: the commander of an army.
τοῦ  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἱεροῦ  temple 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Singular
Root: ἱερόν  
Sense: a sacred place, temple.
πρεσβυτέρους  elders 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: πρεσβύτερος  
Sense: elder, of age,.
ἐπὶ  against 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
λῃστὴν  a  robber 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀρχιλῃστής 
Sense: a robber, plunderer, freebooter, brigand.
ἐξήλθατε  have  you  come  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
μαχαιρῶν  swords 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Plural
Root: μάχαιρα  
Sense: a large knife, used for killing animals and cutting up flesh.
ξύλων  clubs 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ξύλον  
Sense: wood.