Luke 22:52 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders, who had come out against him, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

NIV: Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs?

NASB: And Jesus said to the chief priests and officers of the temple and elders who had come against Him, 'Have you come out with swords and clubs as you would against a man inciting a revolt?

CSB: Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?

NLT: Then Jesus spoke to the leading priests, the captains of the Temple guard, and the elders who had come for him. 'Am I some dangerous revolutionary,' he asked, 'that you come with swords and clubs to arrest me?

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

NKJV: Then Jesus said to the chief priests, captains of the temple, and the elders who had come to Him, “Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs?

Judas has led the temple guards, priests, and servants to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. There, Jesus has been agonizing in prayer. Jesus woke up Peter, James, and John as the crowd approached. In a foolish display of loyalty, Peter draws his sword and slashes at one of the servants. Jesus tells Peter to stop and heals the man's maimed ear (Luke 22:39–51; John 18:10–11).

Now, Jesus addresses His captors. Jesus has done nothing violent other than drive out the merchants on the temple Mount. These merchants cheated the travelers who needed sacrifices and money-changing, and they clogged the courtyard meant for Gentiles to worship (Luke 19:45–46). He is not a violent robber—like the two men He will be crucified next to. Despite their fears, He has not come to Jerusalem to begin an insurrection against them or the Romans. He is in Jerusalem to celebrate Passover and die at their hands.

Right before this moment, Jesus reminded the disciples that He is ever in control. He tells Peter to put away his sword and says, "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matthew 26:52–53). Jesus also asks the mob, "Whom do you seek?" They respond, "Jesus of Nazareth." Jesus tells them, "I am he." The force of the words that identify Him as God are so great that they step back and fall to the ground. Jesus then tells them to leave the disciples alone because He will not lose any that the Father gave Him (John 18:4–9).

Even in this moment, Jesus is in full control, "But all this has taken place that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled" (Matthew 26:56).

The King James Version uses "staves" instead of "clubs." Both mean a blunt weapon made of wood.

Luke 22:47–53 records Jesus' betrayal by Judas and arrest by members of the Sanhedrin. After spending years trying to destroy Jesus, the religious leaders have found an ally in one of His disciples. Judas leads soldiers and servants to where Jesus spends His nights. The arrest will be in the dark, away from the crowds. Peter, quick to prove his loyalty, cuts off a servant's ear. Jesus heals it and allows Himself to be taken. Jesus' arrest is also recorded in Matthew 26:47–56, Mark 14:43–50, and John 18:2–12.

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.