A.T. Robertson Commentary Luke 20
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 20
A.T. Robertson Commentary
Luke 20
"And it came to pass, on one of the days, as he was teaching the people in the temple, and preaching the gospel, there came upon him the chief priests and the scribes with the elders;" — Luke 20:1 (ASV)
On one of the days (εν μια των ημερων). Luke's favourite way of indicating time. It was the last day of the temple teaching (Tuesday). Luke 20:1–19 is to be compared with Mr 11:27-12:12; Matthew 21:23–46.
There came upon him (επεστησαν). Second aorist active indicative, ingressive aorist of εφιστημ, old and common verb, stood up against him, with the notion of sudden appearance. These leaders (cf. 19:47) had determined to attack Jesus on this morning, both Sadducees (chief priests) and Pharisees (scribes), a formal delegation from the Sanhedrin.
"and they spake, saying unto him, Tell us: By what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority?" — Luke 20:2 (ASV)
Tell us (ειπον ημιν). Luke adds these words to what Mark and Matthew have. Second aorist active imperative for the old form ειπε and with ending -ον of the first aorist active. Westcott and Hort punctuate the rest of the sentence as an indirect question after ειπον, but the Revised Version puts a semicolon after "us" and retains the direct question. The Greek manuscripts have no punctuation.
"And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:" — Luke 20:3 (ASV)
Question (λογον). Literally, word. So in Mr 11:29; Matthew 21:24.
"And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why did ye not believe him?" — Luke 20:5 (ASV)
They reasoned with themselves (συνελογισαντο). First aorist middle of συλλογιζομα, to bring together accounts, an old word, only here in the N.T. Mark and Matthew have διελογιζοντο (imperfect middle of διαλογιζομα, a kindred verb, to reckon between one another, confer). This form (διελογιζοντο) in verse 14 below.
If we shall say (εαν ειπωμεν). Third-class condition with second aorist active subjunctive. Suppose we say! So in verse 6.
"But if we shall say, From men; all the people will stone us: for they are persuaded that John was a prophet." — Luke 20:6 (ASV)
Will stone us (καταλιθασε). Late verb and here only in the N.T. Literally, will throw stones down on us, stone us down, overwhelm us with stones.
They be persuaded (πεπεισμενος εστιν). Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of πειθω, to persuade, a settled state of persuasion, "is persuaded" (no reason for use of "be" here).
That John was a prophet (Ιωανην προφητην εινα). Accusative and infinitive in indirect assertion.
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