Luke 22:41

Luk 22:41. Ἀπεσπάσθη, He was severed [‘withdrawn’] from them) with earnest intention [with serious feeling, “serio affectu”].

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Luk 22:41 . ἀπεσπάσθη , He withdrew, secessit . Some insist on the literal sense, and render, “tore Himself away” = “avulsus est,” Vulg [190] , implying that Jesus was acting under strong feeling. But did Lk. wish to make that prominent? The verb does not necessarily mean more than “withdrew,” and many of the philological commentators (Wolf, Raphel, Pricaeus, Palairet, etc.) take it in that sense, citing late Greek authors in support. ἀπʼ αὐτῶν , from them (all); no mention of three taken along with Him, a very important feature as an index of the state of mind of Jesus. The Master in His hour of weakness looked to the three for sympathy and moral support; vide Mat 26:40 . But it did not enter into Lk.’s plan to make that apparent. λίθου βολήν , a stone’s cast, not too distant to be over heard. βολήν is the accusative of measure. θεὶς τὰ γόνατα : the usual attitude in prayer was standing; the kneeling posture implied special urgency (“in genibus orabant quoties res major urgebat,” Grot.), but not so decidedly as falling at full length on the ground, the attitude pointed at in the parallels.

[190] Vulgate (Jerome’s revision of old Latin version).

The Expositor's Greek Testament, edited by W. Robertson Nicoll (1897–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Prayers are a sure succor against the most perilous assaults of our enemies.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

(41) About a stone’s cast.—The descriptive touch, implying a report coming directly or indirectly from an eye-witness, is peculiar to St. Luke.

Kneeled down, and prayed.—Literally, and was praying. The tense of the latter verb implies continuous and sustained prayer.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

41. he was withdrawn] Literally, “He was taken away,” or ‘He tore Himself away’ (comp. Luk_21:1), shewing the reluctance with which He parted from this support of loving sympathy under the imperious necessity of passing through His darkest hour alone. Perhaps He withdrew deeper into the shadow of the ancient olive-trees. (In estimating the force of such words as ekballo, apospao, &c., it should however be borne in mind that in Hellenistic Greek their old classical force was weakened by colloquialism. See 2Ma_12:10.)

and kneeled down] “and fell on His face,” Mat_26:39.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Saying, Father, if thou be willing,.... If it be consistent with thy will of saving sinners, and which thou hast declared to me, and I have undertook to perform: the other evangelists say, "if it be possible"; See Gill on Mat 26:39.

remove this cup from me; meaning, either his present sorrows and distress, or his approaching sufferings and death, which he had in view, or both:

nevertheless not my will; as man, for Christ had an human will distinct from, though not contrary to his divine will:

but thine be done; which Christ undertook, and came into this world to do; and it was his meat and drink to do it, and was the same with his own will, as the Son of God; See Gill on Mat 26:39, and See Gill on Mat 26:42.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

41 And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,

Ver. 41. And he was withdrawn] For privacy’ sake to pray, though loth to leave their company, through extreme perplexity, which made him return so often to them, calling upon them to watch with him.

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Whether from the eight, or from Peter, James, and John also, the evangelist doth not tell us; but some are of opinion, that he took the three disciples along to join with him in prayer, from whom some account might be given of the substance of his prayer, which followeth. I rather think he was alone.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

41. Withdrawn from them—He first withdrew from the body of the disciples, attended by Peter, James, and John. He now withdraws from the three.

About a stone’s cast—A customary measurement in the Greek and Roman writers.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

about a stone's throw

"about the distance that someone can throw a stone." AT: "a short distance" or with an estimated measurement like "about thirty meters" (See: Idiom)

Father, if you are willing

Jesus will bear the guilt of every person's sin on the cross. He prays to his Father, asking if there is another way.

Father

This is an important title for God. (See: Translating Son and Father)

remove this cup from me

Jesus refers to what he will soon experience as if it were a cup of bitter liquid that he would have to drink. AT: "allow me to not drink from this cup" or "allow me to not experience what is about to happen" (See: Metaphor)

Nevertheless not my will, but yours be done

This can be stated in active form. AT: "However, do what is according to your will rather than what is according to my will" (See: Active or Passive)

translationWords

pray

God the Father

will of God

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.

41. ἀπεσπάσθη. Vulg[382] avulsus est. Literally, “He was torn away,” or ‘He tore Himself away’ (comp. Luk 21:1), shewing the reluctance with which He parted from this support of loving sympathy under the imperious necessity of passing through His darkest hour alone. Perhaps He withdrew deeper into the shadow of the ancient olive-trees. In estimating the force of such words as ἐκβάλλω, ἀποσπόω, &c. it should indeed be borne in mind that in Hellenistic Greek their old classical force was weakened by colloquialism. See 2Ma 12:10. But since this verb is not used elsewhere in the N. T., and since the idea of withdrawal—secessit—is expressed by ανεχώρησεν (Mat 12:15, &c.), St Luke seems to have used the word in its proper sense.

[382] Vulg. Vulgate.

ὡσεὶ λίθου βολήν. The accusative of space as in Joh 6:19, &c.

θεὶς τὰ γόνατα. “And fell on His face,” Mat 26:39.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

41. ἀπεσπάσθη. Avulsus est (Vulg.). “He was drawn away” by the violence of His emotion. which was too strong to tolerate the sympathy of even the closest friends: comp. Act 21:1. It seems to be too strong a word to use of mere separation: but comp. 2 Mac. 12:10, 17; 4 Mac. 13:18; Isa 28:9.

ὡσεὶ λίθου βολήν. Mt. and Mk. have μικρόν Comp. ὡσεὶ τόξου βολήν (Gen 21:16): λείπετο δουρὸς ἐρωήν (Hom. Il. xxiii. 529). The acc. in Joh 6:19 is not quite parallel.

θεὶς τὰ γόνατα. Lk. alone mentions this. Standing was the more common attitude (18:11; Mat 6:5; Mar 11:25; 1Sa 1:26): but on occasions of special earnestness or humiliation kneeling was more natural (1Ki 8:54; Ezr 9:5; Dan 6:10). In N. T. kneeling is the only attitude mentioned; perhaps in imitation of Christ’s example here: Act 7:60, Act 7:9:40, Act 7:20:36, Act 7:21:5; Eph 3:14. The phrase τιθέναι τὰ γόνατα is not classical, but comp. genua ponere. See on 3:21: the imperf. προσηύχετο implies continued prayer.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Was withdrawn [απεσπασθη] . The Vulgate has avulsus est, "he was torn away," as by an inward urgency. Godet adopts this view, and so, apparently, Wyc., he was taken away. Meyer inclines to it; De Wette decidedly rejects it. Compare Act 21:1.

Prayed. Imperfect, began to pray.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.