AND HE LOOKED UP (Αναβλεψας δε). He had taken his seat, after the debate was over and the Sanhedrin had slunk away in sheer defeat, "over against the treasury" (Mark 12:41). The word for "treasury" (γαζοφυλακιον) is a compound of γαζα (Persian word for royal treasury) and φυλακη guard or protecti... [ Continue Reading ]
POOR (πενιχραν). A rare word from πενης (πενομα, to work for one's living). Latin _penuria_ and Greek πειναω, to be hungry are kin to it. Here only in the N.T. Mark 12:42 has πτωχη, a more common word from πτωσσω, to be frightened, to strike and hide from fear, to be in beggary. And Luke uses thi... [ Continue Reading ]
MORE THAN THEY ALL (πλειον παντων). Ablative case after the comparative πλειον.... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THESE DID CAST (παντες ουτο εβαλον). Constative second aorist active indicative covering the whole crowd except the widow.LIVING (βιον). Livelihood as in Mark 12:44, not ζωην, principle of life.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS SOME SPAKE (τινων λεγοντων). Genitive absolute. The disciples we know from Mark 13:1; Matthew 24:1.HOW (οτ). Literally, "that."IT WAS ADORNED (κεκοσμητα). Perfect passive indicative, state of completion, stands adorned, tense retained in indirect discourse, though English has to change it.... [ Continue Reading ]
AS FOR THESE THINGS (ταυτα). Accusative of general reference.ONE STONE UPON ANOTHER (λιθος επ λιθω). Stone upon stone (locative). Here both Mark 13:2; Matthew 24:2 have επ λιθον (accusative). Instead of ουκ αφεθησετα (future passive) they both have ου μη αφεθη (double negative with aorist passi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT YE BE NOT LED ASTRAY (μη πλανηθητε). First aorist passive subjunctive with μη (lest). This verb πλαναω occurs here only in Luke though often in the rest of the N.T. (as Matthew 24:4; Matthew 24:5; Matthew 24:11; Matthew 24:24, which see). Our word _planet_ is from this word.THE TIME IS AT HA... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT TERRIFIED (μη πτοηθητε). First aorist passive subjunctive with μη from πτοεω an old verb to terrify, from πτοα, terror. In the N.T. only here and Luke 24:37.FIRST (Πρωτον). It is so easy to forget this and to insist that the end is "immediately" in spite of Christ's explicit denial here.... [ Continue Reading ]
FAMINES AND PESTILENCES (λοιμο κα λιμο). Play on the two words pronounced just alike in the _Koine_ (itacism).AND TERRORS (φοβηθρα τε). The use of τε... τε in this verse groups the two kinds of woes. This rare word φοβηθρα is only here in the N.T. It is from φοβεω, to frighten, and occurs only... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BEFORE ALL THESE THINGS (προ δε τουτων παντων). In Mark 13:8; Matthew 24:8 these things are termed "the beginning of travail." That may be the idea here. Plummer insists that priority of time is the point, not magnitude.BRINGING YOU (απαγομενους). Present passive participle from απαγω, an o... [ Continue Reading ]
IT SHALL TURN UNTO YOU (αποβησετα υμιν). Future middle of αποβαινω. It will come off, turn out for you (dative of advantage).FOR A TESTIMONY (εις μαρτυριον). To their loyalty to Christ. Besides, "the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT TO MEDITATE BEFOREHAND (μη προμελεταιν). The classical word for conning a speech beforehand. Mark 13:11 has προμεριμναω, a later word which shows previous anxiety rather than previous preparation.HOW TO ANSWER (απολογηθηνα). First aorist passive infinitive. It is the preparation for the spe... [ Continue Reading ]
YOUR ADVERSARIES (ο αντικειμενο υμιν). Those who stand against, line up face to face with (note αντι-).TO WITHSTAND OR TO GAINSAY (αντιστηνα η αντειπειν). Two second aorist active infinitives with αντι- in composition again. But these "antis" will go down before the power of Christ.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL THEY CAUSE TO BE PUT TO DEATH (θανατωσουσιν). Future active of θανατοω, to put to death or to make to die (causative). Either makes sense here. Old and common verb.... [ Continue Reading ]
NOT A HAIR OF YOUR HEAD SHALL PERISH (θριξ εκ της κεφαλης υμων ου μη απολητα). Only in Luke. Second aorist middle subjunctive of απολλυμ with ου μη (double negative). Jesus has just said that some they will put to death. Hence it is spiritual safety here promised such as Paul claimed about death... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL WIN (κτησεσθε). Future middle of κταομα, to acquire. They will win their souls even if death does come.... [ Continue Reading ]
COMPASSED WITH ARMIES (κυκλουμενην υπο στρατοπεδων). Present passive participle of κυκλοω, to circle, encircle, from κυκλος, circle. Old verb, but only four times in N.T. The point of this warning is the present tense, being encircled. It will be too late after the city is surrounded. It is objec... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT MAY BE FULFILLED (του πλησθηνα). Articular infinitive passive to express purpose with accusative of general reference. The O.T. has many such warnings (Hosea 9:7; Deuteronomy 28:49-57, etc.).... [ Continue Reading ]
EDGE OF THE SWORD (στοματ μαχαιρης). Instrumental case of στοματ which means "mouth" literally (Genesis 34:26). This verse like the close of verse Luke 21:22 is only in Luke. Josephus (_War_, VI. 9.3) states that 1,100,000 Jews perished in the destruction of Jerusalem and 97,000 were taken captiv... [ Continue Reading ]
DISTRESS (συνοχη). From συνεχω. In the N.T. only here and 2 Corinthians 2:4. Anguish.IN PERPLEXITY (εν απορια). State of one who is απορος, who has lost his way (α privative and πορος). Here only in the N.T. though an old and common word.FOR THE ROARING OF THE SEA (ηχους θαλασσης). Our word e... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN FAINTING (αποψυχοντων ανθρωπων). Genitive absolute of αποψυχω, to expire, to breathe off or out. Old word. Here only in N.T.EXPECTATION (προσδοκιας). Old word from προσδοκαω, to look for or towards. In the N.T. only here and Acts 12:11.THE WORLD (τη οικουμενη). Dative case, "the inhabited... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEN SHALL THEY SEE (κα τοτε οψοντα). As much as to say that it will be not till then. Clearly the promise of the second coming of the Son of man in glory here (Mark 13:26; Matthew 24:30) is pictured as not one certain of immediate realization. The time element is left purposely vague.... [ Continue Reading ]
LOOK UP (ανακυψατε). First aorist active imperative of ανακυπτω, to raise up. Here of the soul as in John 8:7; John 8:10, but in Luke 13:11 of the body. These the only N.T. examples of this common verb.REDEMPTION (απολυτρωσις). Act of redeeming from απολυτροω. The final act at the second coming... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FIG TREE, AND ALL THE TREES (την συκην κα παντα τα δενδρα). This parable of the fig-tree (Mark 13:28-32; Matthew 24:32-35) Luke applies to "all the trees." It is true about all of them, but the fig tree was very common in Palestine.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOOT FORTH (προβαλωσιν). Second aorist active subjunctive of προβαλλω, common verb, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 19:33.SUMMER (θερος). Not harvest, but summer. Old word, but in the N.T. only here (Mark 13:28; Matthew 24:32).... [ Continue Reading ]
COMING TO PASS (γινομενα). Present middle participle of γινομα and so descriptive of the process.NIGH (εγγυς). The consummation of the kingdom is here meant, not the beginning.... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS GENERATION (η γενεα αυτη). Naturally people then living.SHALL NOT PASS AWAY (ου μη παρελθη). Second aorist active subjunctive of παρερχομα. Strongest possible negative with ου μη.TILL ALL THINGS BE ACCOMPLISHED (εως αν παντα γενητα). Second aorist middle subjunctive of γινομα with εως, co... [ Continue Reading ]
MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY (ο λογο μου ου μη παρελευσοντα). Future middle indicative with ου μη, a bit stronger statement than the subjunctive. It is noteworthy that Jesus utters these words just after the difficult prediction in verse Luke 21:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
LEST HAPLY YOUR HEARTS BE OVERCHARGED (μη ποτε βαρηθωσιν α καρδια υμων). First aorist passive subjunctive of βαρεω, an old verb to weigh down, depress, with μη ποτε.WITH SURFEITING (εν κρεπαλη). A rather late word, common in medical writers for the nausea that follows a debauch. Latin _crapula_... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WATCH YE (αγρυπνειτε δε). Αγρυπνεω is a late verb to be sleepless (α privative and υπνος, sleep). Keep awake and be ready is the pith of Christ's warning.THAT YE MAY PREVAIL TO ESCAPE (ινα κατισχυσητε εκφυγειν). First aorist active subjunctive with ινα of purpose. The verb κατισχυω means to... [ Continue Reading ]
EVERY DAY (τας ημερας). During the days, accusative of extent of time.EVERY NIGHT (τας νυκτας). "During the nights," accusative of extent of time.LODGED (ηυλιζετο). Imperfect middle, was lodging, αυλιζομα from αυλη (court).... [ Continue Reading ]
CAME EARLY (ωρθριζεν). Imperfect active of ορθριζω from ορθρος, late form for ορθρευω, to rise early. Only here in the N.T.... [ Continue Reading ]