Luke 22:51
And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.
Original Language Analysis
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
G611
ἀποκριθεὶς
answered
Strong's:
G611
Word #:
1 of 15
to conclude for oneself, i.e., (by implication) to respond; by hebraism (compare h6030) to begin to speak (where an address is expected)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 15
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
ἕως
far
G2193
ἕως
far
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
7 of 15
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
καὶ
And
G2532
καὶ
And
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 15
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἁψάμενος
he touched
G680
ἁψάμενος
he touched
Strong's:
G680
Word #:
10 of 15
properly, to attach oneself to, i.e., to touch (in many implied relations)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
11 of 15
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὠτίου
ear
G5621
ὠτίου
ear
Strong's:
G5621
Word #:
12 of 15
an earlet, i.e., one of the ears, or perhaps the lobe of the ear
αὐτόν
him
G846
αὐτόν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 15
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Cross References
Romans 12:21Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.2 Corinthians 10:1Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:John 17:12While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
Historical Context
This healing is unique to Luke's Gospel, written by a physician (Colossians 4:14) who would naturally note medical details. That no Gospel suggests Malchus converted demonstrates the hardness possible even after experiencing miracles. The healing had practical benefit—had Jesus allowed the injury to stand, Peter could have faced assault charges before Roman authorities. Christ's healing thus protected His disciple even while rebuking him. This was likely Jesus' last public miracle before the resurrection.
Questions for Reflection
- Why does Jesus heal someone who came to arrest Him? What does this reveal about grace?
- How should Christians respond when their 'defense' of Christ causes damage?
- What does Malchus' apparent non-conversion teach about the limits of miracles in producing faith?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. Jesus' final miracle before the cross is healing an enemy—the only Gospel miracle performed for someone opposing Him. Eate heōs toutou (ἐᾶτε ἕως τούτου, 'permit until this') can mean 'stop, no more of this' (forbidding further violence) or 'permit this [arrest] to proceed.' Both meanings apply: Jesus forbids resistance and submits to His captors. The phrase hapsamenos tou ōtiou iasato auton (ἁψάμενος τοῦ ὠτίου ἰάσατο αὐτόν, 'touching the ear, he healed him') shows Jesus exercising divine power even as He surrenders to arrest.
This miracle demonstrates Christ's character: He heals while being betrayed, shows mercy to enemies, and undoes His disciples' damage. It fulfills His teaching to 'love your enemies' (Luke 6:27-28) and 'bless them that curse you.' The irony is profound—Jesus is arrested for claiming to be God, and immediately proves His deity by miraculous healing. Yet the arrest continues, showing how sin blinds: Malchus experiences Christ's power but still assists His enemies.