Discovery BoxLuke 22:39-49 
Context22:39 Then 1 Jesus 2 went out and made his way, 3 as he customarily did, to the Mount of Olives, 4 and the disciples followed him. 22:40 When he came to the place, 5 he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 6 22:41 He went away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, 22:42 “Father, if you are willing, take 7 this cup 8 away from me. Yet not my will but yours 9 be done.” 22:43 [Then an angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 22:44 And in his anguish 10 he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.] 11 22:45 When 12 he got up from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping, exhausted 13 from grief. 22:46 So 14 he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Get up and pray that you will not fall into temptation!” 15
22:47 While he was still speaking, suddenly a crowd appeared, 16 and the man named Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He walked up 17 to Jesus to kiss him. 18 22:48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” 19 22:49 When 20 those who were around him saw what was about to happen, they said, “Lord, should 21 we use our swords?” 22
1 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.
2 tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
3 tn Grk “went.”
4 sn See the note on the Mount of Olives in Luke 19:29.
5 sn Luke does not mention Gethsemane by name, but calls it simply the place.
6 sn Jesus’ instructions to pray not to fall into temptation is an allusion to Luke 22:28-38, especially 22:31. The temptation is Satan’s challenge to them to defect, like what happened to Judas and what will happen to Peter.
7 tn Luke’s term παρένεγκε is not as exact as the one in Matt 26:39. Luke’s means “take away” (BDAG 772 s.v. παρένεγκε 2.c) while Matthew’s means “take away without touching,” suggesting an alteration (if possible) in God’s plan. For further discussion see D. L. Bock, Luke (BECNT), 2:1759-60.
8 sn This cup alludes to the wrath of God that Jesus would experience (in the form of suffering and death) for us. See Ps 11:6; 75:8-9; Isa 51:17, 19, 22 for this figure.
9 sn With the statement “Not my will but yours be done” Jesus submitted fully to God’s will.
10 tn Grk “And being in anguish.”
11 tc Several important Greek
sn Angelic aid is noted elsewhere in the gospels: Matt 4:11 = Mark 1:13.
12 tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.
13 tn Grk “from grief.” The word “exhausted” is not in the Greek text, but is implied; the disciples have fallen asleep from mental and emotional exhaustion resulting from their distress (see L&N 25.273; cf. TEV, NIV, NLT).
14 tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “so” to indicate the implied result of Jesus finding them asleep.
15 sn Jesus calls the disciples again to prayerful watchfulness with the words “Get up and pray” (see 22:40). The time is full of danger (22:53).
16 tn Grk “While he was still speaking, behold, a crowd, and the one called Judas…was leading them.” The abrupt appearance of the crowd on the scene is indicated in the translation by “suddenly” and “appeared.”
17 tn Grk “drew near.”
18 tc Many
19 sn Jesus’ comment about betraying the Son of Man with a kiss shows the hypocrisy and blindness of an attempt to cover up sin. On “misused kisses” in the Bible, see Gen 27:26-27; 2 Sam 15:5; Prov 7:13; 27:6; and 2 Sam 20:9.
20 tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.
21 tn The direct question using “if” in Greek is not unusual (BDF §440.3).
22 sn “Should we use our swords?” The disciples’ effort to defend Jesus recalls Luke 22:35-38. One individual did not wait for the answer.
