Luke 22:66

What does Luke 22:66 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 22:66 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 22:66 means

At daybreak, the elders, chief priests, and scribes convene and lead Jesus into their council. Nighttime abuse gives way to a semblance of legality. The religious establishment now seeks an official basis to condemn Him. The council’s makeup underscores the comprehensive institutional rejection—elders, priests, and teachers united. The timing at day reflects their desire to cloak wrongdoing with procedure. Jesus, bound yet composed, stands before those sworn to uphold God’s law. This scene transitions from mockery to formal interrogation, where His identity becomes the central issue. The verse signals that the decisive question is not merely His deeds, but who He is—the Christ, the Son of God—and how the leaders will respond to His claims.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as soon as it was day, the elders of the people and the chief priests and the scribes came together, and led him into their council, saying,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And as soon as it was day, the assembly of the elders of the people was gathered together, both chief priests and scribes; and they led him away into their council, saying,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And when it was day, the rulers of the people came together, with the chief priests and the scribes, and they took him before their Sanhedrin, saying,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And when it became day there was gathered together the eldership of the people, chief priests also, and scribes, and they led him up to their own sanhedrim,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as soon as it was day, the ancients of the people and the chief priests and scribes came together. And they brought him into their council saying: If thou be the Christ, tell us.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And when it was day, the elderhood of the people, both [the] chief priests and scribes, were gathered together, and led him into their council, saying,

Context

After a night of mockery and beating, morning brings the formal gathering of the Jewish leadership to interrogate Jesus. They lead Him into their council chamber, preparing to ask if He is the Christ. In the following verses, Jesus will tell them they will not believe and will point to the Son of man seated at God’s right hand. Pressing further, they will ask if He is the Son of God; His answer will prompt them to declare they need no further witness.

v.65And many other things spake they against him, reviling him.

v.66This passage

v.67If thou art the Christ, tell us. But he said unto them, If I tell you, ye will not believe:

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 22:5

    As also the high priest doth bear me witness, and all the estate of the elders: from whom also I received letters unto the brethren, and journeyed to Damascus to bring them also that were there unto Jerusalem in bonds to be punished.

  • Mark 15:1

    And straightway in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes, and the whole council, held a consultation, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him up to Pilate.

  • Matthew 5:22

    but I say unto you, that every one who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council; and whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of the hell of fire.

  • Psalms 2:1

    Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing?

  • John 18:28

    They lead Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Prætorium: and it was early; and they themselves entered not into the Prætorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the passover.

  • Acts 4:25

    who by the Holy Spirit, by the mouth of our father David thy servant, didst say, Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples imagine vain things?

Related questions readers ask

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 22:66.