Luke 22:52
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?
Original Language Analysis
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 24
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
5 of 24
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
6 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
παραγενομένους
which were come
G3854
παραγενομένους
which were come
Strong's:
G3854
Word #:
7 of 24
to become near, i.e., approach (have arrived); by implication, to appear publicly
ἐπὶ
against
G1909
ἐπὶ
against
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
8 of 24
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
αὐτὸν
him
G846
αὐτὸν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 24
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
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
G749
ἀρχιερεῖς
the chief priests
Strong's:
G749
Word #:
10 of 24
the high-priest (literally, of the jews; typically, christ); by extension a chief priest
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
11 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
στρατηγοὺς
captains
G4755
στρατηγοὺς
captains
Strong's:
G4755
Word #:
12 of 24
a general, i.e., (by implication or analogy) a (military) governor (praetor), the chief (praefect) of the (levitical) temple-wardens
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
13 of 24
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἱεροῦ
of the temple
G2411
ἱεροῦ
of the temple
Strong's:
G2411
Word #:
14 of 24
a sacred place, i.e., the entire precincts (whereas g3485 denotes the central sanctuary itself) of the temple (at jerusalem or elsewhere)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
15 of 24
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
πρεσβυτέρους
the elders
G4245
πρεσβυτέρους
the elders
Strong's:
G4245
Word #:
16 of 24
older; as noun, a senior; specially, an israelite sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or christian "presbyter"
Ὡς
as
G5613
Ὡς
as
Strong's:
G5613
Word #:
17 of 24
which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)
ἐπὶ
against
G1909
ἐπὶ
against
Strong's:
G1909
Word #:
18 of 24
properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re
μετὰ
with
G3326
μετὰ
with
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
21 of 24
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
μαχαιρῶν
swords
G3162
μαχαιρῶν
swords
Strong's:
G3162
Word #:
22 of 24
a knife, i.e., dirk; figuratively, war, judicial punishment
Cross References
Luke 22:4And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.Acts 5:26Then went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.Matthew 26:55In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me.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
Roman crucifixion was reserved for insurrectionists and violent criminals, not religious teachers. By treating Jesus like a lēstēs, the authorities framed Him for Rome's execution. The 'captains of the temple' (stratēgoi tou hierou) were Temple police chiefs, second only to the high priest in authority. Their participation indicates official Sanhedrin involvement. Nighttime arrests violated Jewish law, which required trials during daylight with proper witnesses. This illegal proceeding showed their desperation.
Questions for Reflection
- Why did the religious leaders use military force against a non-violent teacher?
- What does their cowardice—arresting at night rather than publicly—reveal about truth and lies?
- How does Jesus' question expose the disconnect between their claims and actions?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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? Jesus confronts the religious leaders' hypocrisy directly. The phrase hōs epi lēstēn exēlthate (ὡς ἐπὶ λῃστὴν ἐξήλθατε, 'as against a robber/insurrectionist you came out') uses lēstēs (λῃστής), meaning armed bandit or revolutionary—the same term for the criminals crucified with Jesus (Luke 23:32) and Barabbas (John 18:40). Jesus questions why a teacher who openly taught in the Temple requires military force to arrest. The meta machairōn kai xulōn (μετὰ μαχαιρῶν καὶ ξύλων, 'with swords and clubs') indicates both Roman military presence and Jewish vigilante force.
This verse exposes the leadership's cowardice and illegality. They arrested Jesus at night, in secret, because they feared the crowds (Luke 22:2). Their show of force was theater—Jesus never resisted arrest, threatened violence, or led insurrection. The irony is thick: they treat the Prince of Peace like a violent criminal while they themselves resort to illegal nighttime arrest, false witnesses, and mob violence.