16:19 “There was a rich man who dressed in purple 8 and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously 9 every day.
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate a summary.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (the devil) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Grk “until a favorable time.”
sn Until a more opportune time. Though some have argued that the devil disappears until Luke 22:3, this is unlikely since the cosmic battle with Satan and all the evil angels is consistently mentioned throughout Luke (8:26-39; 11:14-23).
4 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
5 sn Jesus here demonstrated the absurdity of the thinking of those who maintained that he was in league with Satan and that he actually derived his power from the devil. He first teaches (vv. 17-20) that if he casts out demons by the ruler of the demons, then in reality Satan is fighting against himself, with the result that his kingdom has come to an end. He then teaches (v. 21-22) about defeating the strong man to prove that he does not need to align himself with the devil because he is more powerful. Jesus defeated Satan at his temptation (4:1-13) and by his exorcisms he clearly demonstrated himself to be stronger than the devil. The passage reveals the desperate condition of the religious leaders, who in their hatred for Jesus end up attributing the work of the Holy Spirit to Satan.
6 tn Or “is left in ruins.”
7 tn Grk “and house falls on house.” This phrase pictures one house collapsing on another, what is called today a “house of cards.”
8 sn Purple describes a fine, expensive dye used on luxurious clothing, and by metonymy, refers to clothing colored with that dye. It pictures someone of great wealth.
9 tn Or “celebrated with ostentation” (L&N 88.255), that is, with showing off. Here was the original conspicuous consumer.