Luke 22:64 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They also blindfolded him and kept asking him, "Prophesy! Who is it that struck you?"

NIV: They blindfolded him and demanded, "Prophesy! Who hit you?"

NASB: and they blindfolded Him and repeatedly asked Him, saying, 'Prophesy, who is the one who hit You?'

CSB: After blindfolding him, they kept asking, "Prophesy! Who was it that hit you?"

NLT: They blindfolded him and said, 'Prophesy to us! Who hit you that time?'

KJV: And when they had blindfolded him, they struck him on the face, and asked him, saying, Prophesy, who is it that smote thee?

NKJV: And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?”

The Sanhedrin is holding an illegal trial against Jesus in the courtyard of the high priest Caiaphas. In the process, they mock the claim that He is a prophet. This attack has a deeper meaning than they know. Earlier, Pharisees told Jesus to flee because Herod Antipas was trying to kill Him. Jesus responded with His schedule for the next few months, saying He would go to Jerusalem "for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem" (Luke 13:31–35). He also told the scribes, "Woe to you! For you build the tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. So you are witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed them, and you build their tombs" (Luke 11:47–48).

When Stephen gives his defense for his devotion to Jesus, He agrees with Jesus, saying, "You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered" (Acts 7:51–52).

In the Mosaic law, it is a capital offense to give a prophecy that doesn't come true (Deuteronomy 18:20–22). Ironically, Jesus has just been proved to be a true prophet. He said that Peter will deny Him three times and Peter just has (Luke 22:31–34, 54–62). His prophecies will continue to come true as the religious leaders beat and kill Him (Luke 9:22, 44–45; 11:29–30; 18:31–34).

In truth, Jesus knows who is striking Him. He knows the motives of their hearts (Hebrews 4:13). He knows who will be responsible for convincing Pilate to crucify Him. And while He is hanging from the cross, He will say, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).

Luke 22:63–65 occurs at the end of Jesus' second trial. Only John seems to record the first trial, at Annas's home (John 18:13–23). The second is at the home of the high priest Caiaphas. Matthew 26:57–68 and Mark 14:53–65 give more detail about Caiaphas's trial. Luke mentions only Peter's denials that occur while the trial is ongoing (Luke 22:54–62) and the beatings at Caiaphas's, but he gives more detail about the official—and only legal—trial in the morning before the whole Sanhedrin (Luke 22:66–71).

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.