Luke 22:71
What does Luke 22:71 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 22:71 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 22:71 means
The council concludes, “What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.” They take Jesus’ affirmation as sufficient grounds for condemnation. Ironically, their rush to judgment fulfills God’s plan, though it springs from unbelief. Human courts consider evidence; here, the truest testimony—Christ’s own word—becomes the pretext for rejecting Him. The leaders cast themselves as neutral arbiters but are participants in the hour of darkness. This verse closes the religious trial phase, propelling Jesus toward Roman judgment. It leaves the reader facing the central question: will we join the council’s rejection or confess with faith the One who will soon be exalted at the right hand of the power of God?
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they said, What need we any further witness? for we ourselves have heard of his own mouth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they said, What further need have we of witness? for we ourselves have heard from his own mouth.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they said, What more need have we of witness? we have the very words of his mouth.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they said, `What need yet have we of testimony? for we ourselves did hear <FI>it<Fi> from his mouth.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they said: What need we any further testimony? For we ourselves have heard it from his own mouth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they said, What need have we any more of witness, for we have heard ourselves out of his mouth?
Context
After Jesus acknowledges their formulation of His Sonship, the council declares that they require no more witnesses. With this, the religious proceedings reach their conclusion, and the path to Roman trial is set. The chapter ends poised for the handover to Pilate in the following narrative. Prior scenes—Last Supper, Gethsemane, betrayal, arrest, Peter’s denial, and mockery—have prepared the reader to see that all unfolds under divine necessity, establishing the New Covenant through Christ’s suffering.
v.70And they all said, Art thou then the Son of God? And he said unto them, Ye say that I am.
v.71This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 26:65
Then the high priest rent his garments, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy: what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard the blasphemy:
- Mark 14:63
And the high priest rent his clothes, and saith, What further need have we of witnesses?
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