The Meaning of Luke 22:63 Explained

Luke 22:63

KJV: And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and smote him.

YLT: And the men who were holding Jesus were mocking him, beating him;

Darby: And the men who held him mocked him, beating him;

ASV: And the men that held Jesus mocked him, and beat him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  the men  that held  Jesus  mocked  him,  and smote  [him]. 

What does Luke 22:63 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 22:63-71 - "rejected Of Men"
This scene of mockery is very terrible. How difficult the twelve legions of angels must have found it to restrain themselves. See Matthew 26:53. Here we have an exhibition of the hidden evil of the human heart, which is drawn forth in contact with infinite purity, as the stench of stagnant water is elicited by the summer sun.
Our Lord answered not a word to all the false accusations that were leveled against Him. He left the false witnesses to refute each other. But as soon as His divine claims were challenged, He could not keep silence. It is very noticeable that, in this Gospel, which lays such stress on Christ's pure humanity, Luke makes it so clear that the unwavering affirmation of His equality with God was the cause of His death, John 5:18. Is there not a sense in which the eye of faith always beholds Him seated at the right hand of God's power? [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 22:63

That held [οι συνεχοντες]
See note on Luke 8:45; and the note on Luke 19:43 for this verb συνεχω — sunechō Here alone in the N.T. for holding a prisoner (holding together). The servants or soldiers, not the Sanhedrin. [source]
Mocked [ενεπαιζον]
Imperfect active, were mocking, inchoative, began to mock, to play like boys.And beat him (δεροντες — derontes). Present active participle of δερω — derō to flay, tan, or hide. Literally, “beating.” [source]
And beat him [δεροντες]
Present active participle of δερω — derō to flay, tan, or hide. Literally, “beating.” [source]
Smote [δέροντες]
Originally to flay; thence to cudgel. Compare our vulgarism, to tan or hide. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 22:63

Luke 4:38 Into the house of Simon [εις την οικιαν Σιμωνος]
“Peter‘s house” (Matthew 8:14). “The house of Simon and Andrew” (Mark 1:29). Paul‘s reference to Peter‘s wife (1 Corinthians 9:5) is pertinent. They lived together in Capernaum. This house came also to be the Capernaum home of Jesus.Simon‘s wife‘s mother (πεντερα του Σιμωνος — penthera tou Simōnos). The word πεντερα — penthera for mother-in-law is old and well established in usage. Besides the parallel passages (Mark 1:30; Matthew 8:14; Luke 4:38) it occurs in the N.T. only in Luke 12:53. The corresponding word πεντερος — pentheros father-in-law, occurs in John 18:13 alone in the N.T.Was holden with a great fever Periphrastic imperfect passive, the analytical tense accenting the continuous fever, perhaps chronic and certainly severe. Luke employs this verb nine times and only three others in the N.T. (Matthew 4:24 passive with diseases here; 2 Corinthians 5:14 active; Philemon 1:23 passive). In Acts 28:8 the passive “with dysentery” is like the construction here and is a common one in Greek medical writers as in Greek literature generally. Luke uses the passive with “fear,” Luke 8:37, the active for holding the hands over the ears (Acts 7:57) and for pressing one or holding together (Luke 8:45; Luke 19:43; Luke 22:63), the direct middle for holding oneself to preaching (Acts 18:5). It is followed here by the instrumental case. Hobart (Medical Language of Luke, p. 3) quotes Galen as dividing fevers into “great” (μεγαλοι — megaloi) and “small” (σμικροι — smikroi). [source]
Luke 4:38 Was holden with a great fever [ην συνεχομενη πυρετωι μεγαλωι]
Periphrastic imperfect passive, the analytical tense accenting the continuous fever, perhaps chronic and certainly severe. Luke employs this verb nine times and only three others in the N.T. (Matthew 4:24 passive with diseases here; 2 Corinthians 5:14 active; Philemon 1:23 passive). In Acts 28:8 the passive “with dysentery” is like the construction here and is a common one in Greek medical writers as in Greek literature generally. Luke uses the passive with “fear,” Luke 8:37, the active for holding the hands over the ears (Acts 7:57) and for pressing one or holding together (Luke 8:45; Luke 19:43; Luke 22:63), the direct middle for holding oneself to preaching (Acts 18:5). It is followed here by the instrumental case. Hobart (Medical Language of Luke, p. 3) quotes Galen as dividing fevers into “great” (μεγαλοι — megaloi) and “small” (σμικροι — smikroi). [source]
John 18:23 If I have spoken evil [ει κακως ελαλησα]
Condition of first class (assumed to be true), with ει — ei and aorist active indicative. Jesus had not spoken evilly towards Annas, though he did not here turn the other cheek, one may note. For the sake of argument, Jesus puts it as if he did speak evilly. Then prove it, that is all. Bear witness of the evil First aorist active imperative of μαρτυρεω — martureō to testify. This is the conclusion (apodosis). Jesus is clearly entitled to proof of such a charge if there is any. But if well Supply the same verb ελαλησα — elalēsa The same condition, but with a challenging question as the apodosis. Smitest Old verb δερω — derō to flay, to skin, to beat, as in Matthew 21:35; Luke 22:63; 2 Corinthians 11:20 (of an insulting blow in the face as here). [source]
John 18:28 They lead [αγουσιν]
Dramatic historical present of αγω — agō plural “they” for the Sanhedrists (Luke 23:1). John gives no details of the trial before the Sanhedrin (only the fact, John 18:24, John 18:28) when Caiaphas presided, either the informal meeting at night (Mark 14:53, Mark 14:55-65; Matthew 26:57, Matthew 26:59-68; Luke 22:54, Luke 22:63-65) or the formal ratification meeting after dawn (Mark 15:1; Matthew 27:1; Luke 22:66-71), but he gives much new material of the trial before Pilate (John 18:28-38). Into the palace For the history and meaning of this interesting Latin word, praetorium, see note on Matthew 27:27; note on Acts 23:35; and note on Philemon 1:13. Here it is probably the magnificent palace in Jerusalem built by Herod the Great for himself and occupied by the Roman Procurator (governor) when in the city. There was also one in Caesarea (Acts 23:35). Herod‘s palace in Jerusalem was on the Hill of Zion in the western part of the upper city. There is something to be said for the Castle of Antonia, north of the temple area, as the location of Pilate‘s residence in Jerusalem. Early Technically the fourth watch (3 a.m. to 6 a.m.). There were two violations of Jewish legal procedure (holding the trial for a capital case at night, passing condemnation on the same day of the trial). Besides, the Sanhedrin no longer had the power of death. A Roman court could meet any time after sunrise. John (John 19:14) says it was “about the sixth hour” when Pilate condemned Jesus. That they might not be defiled Purpose clause with ινα μη — hina mē and first aorist passive subjunctive of μιαινω — miainō to stain, to defile. For Jewish scruples about entering the house of a Gentile see Acts 10:28; Acts 11:3. But might eat the passover Second aorist active subjunctive of the defective verb εστιω — esthiō to eat. This phrase may mean to eat the passover meal as in Matthew 27:17 (Mark 14:12, Mark 14:14; Luke 22:11, Luke 22:15), but it does not have to mean that. In 2 Chronicles 30:22 we read: “And they did eat the festival seven days” when the paschal festival is meant, not the paschal lamb or the paschal supper. There are eight other examples of πασχα — pascha in John‘s Gospel and in all of them the feast is meant, not the supper. If we follow John‘s use of the word, it is the feast here, not the meal of John 13:2 which was the regular passover meal. This interpretation keeps John in harmony with the Synoptics. [source]
John 19:1 Took and scourged [ελαβεν και εμαστιγωσεν]
First aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō and μαστιγοω — mastigoō (from μαστιχ — mastix whip). For this redundant use of λαμβανω — lambanō see also John 19:6. It is the causative use of μαστιγοω — mastigoō for Pilate did not actually scourge Jesus. He simply ordered it done, perhaps to see if the mob would be satisfied with this penalty on the alleged pretender to royalty (Luke 23:22) whom Pilate had pronounced innocent (John 18:38), an illegal act therefore. It was a preliminary to crucifixion, but Jesus was not yet condemned. The Sanhedrin had previously mocked Jesus (Mark 14:65; Matthew 26:67.; Luke 22:63.) as the soldiers will do later (Mark 15:16-19; Matthew 27:27-30). This later mock coronation (Mark and Matthew) was after the condemnation. Plaited a crown of thorns Old verb πλεκω — plekō to weave, in the N.T. only here, Mark 15:17; Matthew 27:19. Not impossible for the mock coronation to be repeated. Arrayed him “Placed around him” (second aorist active indicative of περιβαλλω — periballō). In a purple garment Old adjective πορπυρεος — porphureos from πορπυρα — porphura purple cloth (Mark 15:17, Mark 15:20), dyed in purple, in the N.T. only here and Revelation 18:16. Jesus had been stripped of his outer garment ιματιον — himation (Matthew 27:28) and the scarlet cloak of one of the soldiers may have been put on him (Matthew 27:28). [source]
2 Corinthians 5:14 Constraineth us [συνεχει ημας]
Old and common verb, to hold together, to press the ears together (Acts 7:57), to press on every side (Luke 8:45), to hold fast (Luke 22:63), to hold oneself to (Acts 18:5), to be pressed (passive, Luke 12:50; Philemon 1:23). So here Paul‘s conception of Christ‘s love for him holds him together to his task whatever men think or say. Judging this (κριναντας τουτο — krinantas touto). Having reached this conclusion, ever since his conversion (Galatians 1:17.). One died for all This is the central tenet in Paul‘s theology and Christology. υπερ — Huper (over) here is used in the sense of substitution as in John 11:50; Galatians 3:13, death in behalf so that the rest will not have to die. This use of υπερ — huper is common in the papyri (Robertson, Grammar, p. 631). In fact, υπερ — huper in this sense is more usual in Greek than αντι προ — antiαρα οι παντες απετανον — pro or any other preposition. Therefore all died (αρα — ara hoi pantes apethanon). Logical conclusion (ara corresponding), the one died for the all and so the all died when he did, all the spiritual death possible for those for whom Christ died. This is Paul‘s gospel, clear-cut, our hope today. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 22:63 mean?

And the men who are holding Him began mocking Him beating [Him]
Καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες οἱ συνέχοντες αὐτὸν ἐνέπαιζον αὐτῷ δέροντες

ἄνδρες  men 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀνήρ  
Sense: with reference to sex.
συνέχοντες  are  holding 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: συνέχω  
Sense: to hold together.
ἐνέπαιζον  began  mocking 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐμπαίζω  
Sense: to play with, trifle with.
δέροντες  beating  [Him] 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δέρω  
Sense: to flay, skin.