Discovery BoxLuke 12:38 
Context12:38 Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night 1 and finds them alert, 2 blessed are those slaves! 3
Luke 21:36
Context21:36 But stay alert at all times, 4 praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that must 5 happen, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
1 sn The second or third watch of the night would be between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. on a Roman schedule and 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on a Jewish schedule. Luke uses the four-watch schedule of the Romans in Acts 12:4, so that is more probable here. Regardless of the precise times of the watches, however, it is clear that the late-night watches when a person is least alert are in view here.
2 tn Grk “finds (them) thus”; but this has been clarified in the translation by referring to the status (“alert”) mentioned in v. 37.
3 tn Grk “blessed are they”; the referent (the watchful slaves, v. 37) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
4 sn The call to be alert at all times is a call to remain faithful in looking for the Lord’s return.
5 tn For the translation of μέλλω (mellw) as “must,” see L&N 71.36.
