Luke 22:43 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him.

NIV: An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.

NASB: [ Now an angel from heaven appeared to Him, strengthening Him.

CSB: Then an angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him.

NLT: Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.

KJV: And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.

NKJV: Then an angel appeared to Him from heaven, strengthening Him.

Luke 22:43–44 is not found in the oldest manuscripts. Nor is the content repeated in the other Gospels. However, it doesn't demand any unique theology. Jesus is on the ground in the garden of Gethsemane, praying that God the Father might choose a different way to save the world (Luke 22:42; John 3:16). It appears the Father has sent His answer. The angel strengthens Him. Then Jesus prays "more earnestly; and his sweat [becomes] like great drops of blood falling down to the ground" (Luke 22:44).

Scholars debate as to how an angel could "strengthen" God the Son. Jesus has just expressed his human nature's desire that He not suffer this terrible experience. His divine nature is ready to follow the Father's instructions wherever they may lead. It seems the angel is confirming that the original plan stands. The angel is strengthening Jesus' commission but also supporting Him as He mourns what is to come.

This is a bit different than the last time angels ministered to Jesus. That was at the end of forty days of fasting and three temptations by Satan (Matthew 4:11). In one of those temptations (Matthew 4:6), Satan quoted Psalm 91:11–13:

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

It's interesting to compare these verses to what is happening here. Later, Peter will refer to Jesus as "a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense" (1 Peter 2:8). Jesus avoids tripping on the desire to avoid the cross. As a result, He dies and rises again, trampling the "roaring lion, seeking someone to devour" (1 Peter 5:8) and crushing the head of Satan, the serpent in the garden (Genesis 3:15).

Luke 22:39–46 is a summarized account of Jesus' prayers at the Mount of Olives. He and the disciples have finished the Passover meal. There, Jesus warned them of coming trials. The disciples argued over who was best (Luke 22:14–30). Now, Jesus expresses sincere apprehension about the crucifixion. Yet He humbly submits to His Father's plan. He knows who He is and why He was sent: only He can save the world. Meanwhile, the disciples sleep instead of praying that their faith will keep them from temptation. Matthew 26:36–46, Mark 14:32–42, and John 18:1 also record Jesus' time in the garden.

Luke 22 is a long chapter which records events leading to Jesus' political trials and crucifixion. He has successfully taught crowds at the temple and proved His authority over the religious leaders (Luke 19:47—20). Meanwhile the leaders have spent the week planning to arrest Jesus and have Him killed (Luke 19:47–48). This chapter records the Last Supper, the arrest on the Mount of Olives, and the trials before the Jewish religious leaders. Matthew 26, Mark 14, and John 18 cover much of the same information.

Luke 23 continues Jesus' trials before Pilate and Herod Antipas. He is then led to the cross where He forgives His murderers and saves a thief before He dies. In Luke 24, Jesus rises from the dead, meets two disciples while they travel, and explains to them how the Old Testament prophesied the death of the Messiah. In the final scene of the gospel, Jesus is reunited with His disciples, blesses them, and ascends into heaven.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.