Luke 22:53
What does Luke 22:53 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 22:53 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 22:53 means
Jesus continues: though He was daily in the temple and they did not seize Him, now is their hour and the power of darkness. He acknowledges a divinely allowed window where evil seems to prevail. Darkness has its moment, but only by permission and for purpose. The contrast is stark: public teaching in light versus clandestine arrest at night. By naming this as their hour, He asserts God’s sovereignty even over wicked hands. The verse explains why events unfold as they do—Scripture must be fulfilled. It prepares readers to see the trials and abuse not as defeat, but as the necessary path through which salvation is accomplished and the kingdom of God comes in unexpected power.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched not forth your hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949When I was in the Temple with you every day, your hands were not stretched out against me: but this is your hour, and the authority of the dark power.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862while daily I was with you in the temple, ye did stretch forth no hands against me; but this is your hour and the power of the darkness.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752When I was daily with you in the temple, you did not stretch forth your hands against me: but this is your hour and the power of darkness.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890When I was day by day with you in the temple ye did not stretch out your hands against me; but this is your hour and the power of darkness.
Context
Having rebuked the authorities’ methods, Jesus identifies the spiritual reality behind their actions: this is the hour of darkness. The arrest proceeds. In the next verses, they will seize Him and lead Him to the high priest’s house, with Peter following at a distance. The narrative then shifts to the courtyard scene, where Peter will warm himself by the fire and deny Jesus three times, fulfilling Jesus’ earlier prophecy, while Jesus endures mockery and beating.
v.52And Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and elders, that were come against him, Are ye come out, as against a robber, with swords and staves?
v.53This passage
v.54And they seized him, and led himaway, and brought him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed afar off.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 21:37
And every day he was teaching in the temple; and every night he went out, and lodged in the mount that is called Olivet.
- John 14:30
I will no more speak much with you, for the prince of the world cometh: and he hath nothing in me;
- John 7:45
The officers therefore came to the chief priests and Pharisees; and they said unto them, Why did ye not bring him?
- Judges 16:21
And the Philistines laid hold on him, and put out his eyes; and they brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison-house.
- Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?
- Matthew 21:45
And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
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