Luke 19:28-40

Context

The Triumphal Entry

19:28 After Jesus¹ had said this, he continued on ahead,² going up to Jerusalem.³ 19:29 Now⁴ when he approached Bethphage⁵ and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives,⁶ he sent two of the disciples, 19:30 telling them,⁷ “Go to the village ahead of you.⁸ When⁹ you enter it, you will find a colt tied there that has never been ridden.¹⁰ Untie it and bring it here. 19:31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs¹¹ it.’” 19:32 So those who were sent ahead found¹² it exactly¹³ as he had told them. 19:33 As¹⁴ they were untying the colt, its owners asked them,¹⁵ “Why are you untying that colt?” 19:34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 19:35 Then¹⁶ they brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks¹⁷ on the colt,¹⁸ and had Jesus get on¹⁹ it. 19:36 As²⁰ he rode along, they²¹ spread their cloaks on the road. 19:37 As he approached the road leading down from²² the Mount of Olives,²³ the whole crowd of his²⁴ disciples began to rejoice²⁵ and praise²⁶ God with a loud voice for all the mighty works²⁷ they had seen:²⁸ 19:38 “Blessed is the king²⁹ who comes in the name of the Lord!³⁰ Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 19:39 But³¹ some of the Pharisees³² in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”³³ 19:40 He answered,³⁴ “I tell you, if they³⁵ keep silent, the very stones³⁶ will cry out!”

[19:28] ¹tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[19:28] ²tn This could mean “before [his disciples],” but that is slightly more awkward, requiring an elided element (the disciples) to be supplied.

[19:28] ³sn This is yet another travel note on the journey to Jerusalem. See also Luke 18:31; 19:11. Jesus does not actually enter Jerusalem until 19:45.

[19:29] ⁴tn Grk “And it happened that when.” The introductory phrase ἐγένετο (egeneto, “it happened that”), common in Luke (69 times) and Acts (54 times), is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated. Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.

[19:29] ⁵sn The exact location of the village of Bethphage is not known. Most locate it on the southeast side of the Mount of Olives and northwest of Bethany, about 1.5 miles (3 km) east of Jerusalem.

[19:29] ⁶tn Grk “at the mountain called ‘of Olives.’” This form of reference is awkward in contemporary English, so the more familiar “Mount of Olives” has been used in the translation.

[19:30] ⁷tn Grk “saying.”

[19:30] ⁸tn Grk “the village lying before [you]” (BDAG 530 s.v. κατέναντι 2.a).

[19:30] ⁹tn Grk “in which entering.” This is a continuation of the previous sentence in Greek, but because of the length and complexity of the construction a new sentence was started here in the translation.

[19:30] ¹⁰tn Grk “a colt tied there on which no one of men has ever sat.”

[19:31] ¹¹sn The custom called angaria allowed the impressment of animals for service to a significant figure.

[19:32] ¹²tn Grk “sent ahead and went and found.”

[19:32] ¹³sn Exactly as he had told them. Nothing in Luke 19-23 catches Jesus by surprise. Often he directs the action.

[19:33] ¹⁴tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:33] ¹⁵tn Grk “said to them.”

[19:35] ¹⁶tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “then” to indicate the implied sequence of events within the narrative.

[19:35] ¹⁷tn Grk “garments”; but this refers in context to their outer cloaks. The action is like 2 Kgs 9:13.

[19:35] ¹⁸sn See Zech 9:9.

[19:35] ¹⁹tn Although ἐπεβίβασαν (epebibasan) is frequently translated “set [Jesus] on it” or “put [Jesus] on it,” when used of a riding animal the verb can mean “to cause to mount” (L&N 15.98); thus here “had Jesus get on it.” The degree of assistance is not specified.

[19:36] ²⁰tn Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:36] ²¹tn The disciples initiated this action (since in 19:35 and 37 they are the subject) but the other gospels indicate the crowds also became involved. Thus it is difficult to specify the referent here as “the disciples” or “people.”

[19:37] ²²tn Grk “the descent of”; this could refer to either the slope of the hillside itself or the path leading down from it (the second option has been adopted for the translation, see L&N 15.109).

[19:37] ²³sn See the note on the name Mount of Olives in v. 29.

[19:37] ²⁴tn Grk “the”; the Greek article has been translated here as a possessive pronoun (ExSyn 215).

[19:37] ²⁵tn Here the participle χαίροντες (caironte") has been translated as a finite verb in English; it could also be translated adverbially as a participle of manner: “began to praise God joyfully.”

[19:37] ²⁶sn See 2:13, 20; Acts 2:47; 3:8-9.

[19:37] ²⁷tn Or “works of power,” “miracles.” Jesus’ ministry of miracles is what has drawn attention. See Luke 7:22.

[19:37] ²⁸tn Grk “they had seen, saying.” The participle λέγοντες (legontes) is redundant in contemporary English and has not been translated.

[19:38] ²⁹sn Luke adds the title king to the citation from Ps 118:26 to make clear who was meant (see Luke 18:38). The psalm was used in looking for the deliverance of the end, thus leading to the Pharisees’ reaction.

[19:38] ³⁰sn A quotation from Ps 118:26.

[19:39] ³¹tn Here καί (kai) has been translated as “but” to indicate the contrast present in this context. Not all present are willing to join in the acclamation.

[19:39] ³²sn See the note on Pharisees in 5:17.

[19:39] ³³sn Teacher, rebuke your disciples. The Pharisees were complaining that the claims were too great.

[19:40] ³⁴tn Grk “and answering, he said.” This has been simplified in the translation to “He answered.” Here καί (kai) has not been translated because of differences between Greek and English style.

[19:40] ³⁵tn Grk “these.”

[19:40] ³⁶sn This statement amounts to a rebuke. The idiom of creation speaking means that even creation knows what is taking place, yet the Pharisees miss it. On this idiom, see Gen 4:10 and Hab 2:11.