Chapter
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Verse
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48

Luke 19:48
ESV but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.
NIV Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
NASB and yet they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.
CSB but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.
NLT But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.
KJV And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
NKJV and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

What does Luke 19:48 mean?

God chose Abraham to be the father of a people: a great nation that would bless the world (Genesis 12:1–3). Several hundred years later, when Moses found himself overwhelmed by the complaints of the people, his father-in-law Jethro told him to create a council of judges who could take some of the burden. About forty years later, God refined Jethro's instruction, telling Moses to choose seventy men to judge the people. At the time of Jesus, this council—the Sanhedrin—is still in effect. It is comprised mostly of Sadducees. This sect follows only the first five books of the Old Testament. They have friendly financial relationships with the Romans. Also in the Sanhedrin are some Pharisees: devout and well-loved by the people. Other Sanhedrin are elders, civil leaders, and businessmen in Jerusalem.

Somewhere between Moses and Jesus, the focus of the Sanhedrin changed. If they led the people to God, it was to prevent another exile. Instead of encouraging the people to bless the Gentiles, they gloried in their own power. And yet, they were afraid of the people. Various rebellions over the centuries had taught them that the people did not easily submit to their authority. If Jesus led the people to rebellion, the wrath of the Roman army would come down on Jerusalem, which would be especially irksome for the elders and Sadducees who got rich off their occupiers. For their part, the Pharisees were jealous; until Jesus came along, they'd had the hearts and praise of the people.

Each sect within the Sanhedrin had their own motives to destroy Jesus. But to keep their influence and authority, they must do it in a way that won't upset the people. Jesus is too popular. So, they hatch a plan. They try to discredit Him (Luke 20:1–8). Then they try to trick Him into either breaking the Roman law or the Mosaic law (Luke 20:19–26). When that doesn't work, they try to catch Him in a contradiction (Luke 20:27–40). Jesus not only passes their tests, but He makes them look like fools for their trouble (Luke 20:41–47).
Expand
Expand
Expand
What is the Gospel?
Download the app:
BibleRef.com is part of Got Questions Ministries

For answers to your Bible questions, please visit